On December 9th, 2010 a proposal on Open Standards adoption for public information systems will be discussed at the Portuguese Parliament.
It is of utmost importance to adopt Open Standards in Portugal, similarly to what already happens in countries like Spain, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Hungary, Germany and France.
Open Standards adoption allows for:
- Improved interoperability between products;
- Strengthening of market competitiveness;
- Price adjustment to real value of solutions.
Embracing Open Standards resolves the problem of “exclusivity contracts” of protocols and formats that prevent free supplier choice, and that burden the country in tens of millions of Euros each year. Open Standards give citizens freedom of choice in their digital relationship with the state.
ESOP – Portuguese Association of Open Source Software Enterprises, supports this initiative unequivocally.
Maintaining the current situation perpetuates “single supplier guaranteed” cases and bears unsustainably high software license costs [1]. Open Standards adoption serves the common interest.
Find out what the world says about Open Standards
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[1] – http://www.esop.pt/estado-gasta-160-milhoes-de-euros-por-ano-em-software
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
What are Open Standards?
Definitions of file formats and communication protocols that allow systems of different origins, brands or suppliers to interconnect. Open standards define common languages, publicly accessible and essential for the coexistence of different systems. The Internet is based on Open Standards, which is why it was possible to interconnect computers, routers, servers, smartphones and other devices worldwide. If the Internet was not based on Open Standards, neighborhoods, cities or entire countries would be closed with little or poor data communication between them. What is now a global network would be an aggregate of more or less disconnected networks. This is the current state of computer systems – poor interoperability between suppliers and excessive product coupling – which will be largely benefited by the adoption of this proposal.
What is the degree of importance of this issue?
With respect to IT this is the most important issue ever debated in Parliament.
Does the adoption of Open Standards require the use of Open Source software?
No. Open standards can and should be implemented in all types of software, Open Source or proprietary.
Does the adoption of Open Standards require effort?
Yes, like all change for the better. But return on investment will be achieved in the short-term.
Who benefits from the adoption of Open Standards?
The state, the economy, citizens and the IT market.
