Entering the WTO, Vietnam wondered before opening and closing codes

The Vietnam Association of Informatics believes that reducing the piracy rate by buying legitimate software will cost a lot. But the suggestion of open source makes many businesses hesitate for other reasons. Leaders of ministries affirmed the need for both solutions.

Recently, the Vietnam Informatics Association (VAIP) sent a written opinion to the Government and the National Steering Committee for Information Technology (IT), suggesting more careful consideration when setting up the issue of using copyright Soft office is common for all Government agencies. VAIP believes that some important agencies such as Ministry of Finance, Vietcombank, FPT Corporation, and BIDV . set an example for the chain reaction to buy office software copyright. This seems contrary to Decision 169 on the purchase of information technology products (IT) by agencies and organizations using state budget capital, which stipulates that state agencies must favor use of locally produced information technology products and open source software.

"Close" or "Open" will save more?

VAIP calculated that in 2005, the domestic market consumed about 1.2 million new computers. If calculating the growth rate of 25% per year, in the next 5 years (since joining WTO), there will be 6 million new PCs to respect software copyright. " That means, if you use commercial software for offices like Windows and Microsoft Office, Vietnam will have to pay software for 6 million PCs x 500 USD = 3 billion USD. On the other hand, in the existing state agencies About 2 million officials and officials can calculate the figure of 1 billion USD for this group, "VAIP Secretary General Nguyen Long raised the issue. " If in the next 5 years, there is no fair 'competitive' product, then 500,000 businesses and 22 million students, students and teachers are exposed only to what products will Windows use for universalization and IT application? And how much will it cost for software licensing? ".

According to the Vietnam Association of Informatics, one of the good solutions is the replacement of closed code software by Linux, Open Office or Web 2.0 applications, because open source software is a teaching tool, a major research in the universities and research institutes. What's interesting is that the cost of open source software is much cheaper. Mr. Long made another calculation that buying a service as an open source for a PC takes only 15-20 USD, including document conversion and installation instructions.

At the Open Source Software Conference held by the Ministry of Science and Technology (Science and Technology) in Hanoi, Sacombank Bank represented as a typical example in the successful deployment of Open Office. Mr. Cao Thanh Danh, representative of Sacombank, said in 2006, this enterprise saved each PC 389 USD of Microsoft Office royalties. This is multiplied by 2.138 PCs in the whole unit, which is equal to 831,682 USD That's not to mention, the savings from each Winzip application set is 50 USD and Vietkey is 100,000 VND.

However, many individuals, businesses and organizations still wonder about solving problems with open source because of many difficulties in training, deployment, use, support services after installation . Duong Ngoc Hai, Vietnam Institute of Science and Technology, expressed: " As a user, I wonder when installing open source software, how interoperability of applications will be and with products. Who is it to ensure its quality?

Deputy Chief of IT Office, Ministry of Science and Technology Nguyen Trung Quynh said that the agency has cooperated with Intel to open a laboratory to test and develop open source solutions to make recommendations for businesses or home organization. open source water effectively and safely. " Once you have the ability to deploy open source software, it is entirely possible to solve problems. If you choose a solution from a service provider, you will have to be responsible for customer support ," Mr. Quynh said.

And the representative of VAIP expressed: " Businesses doing closed-code software such as Microsoft have marketed too well while technology companies in Vietnam, especially those who work as open source are still heavy on sales but neglect to translate. support case ".

The policy is not uniform. Two solutions "run nested"

On March 2, 2004, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 235 approving the overall project of open source software application and development in Vietnam. After two years of implementation, the survey of the Ministry of Science and Technology - the host of the project - shows that the participation rate of the development enterprises as well as the local ministries and branches is quite high, although the application enterprises have modest rate. However, the direction of the path to create a boost for this field has never been.

" We are confused about where to start. Enterprises are waiting but have not seen any direction of the state on this issue. Decision 235 is not yet reached the end user ," said Hoang Le Minh, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Posts and Telematics (MPT) said. " The superior should have better guidance and specific solutions. And the open source must be socialized before it can be deployed ."

Mr. Nguyen Chi Cong, Project 112 Professional Team, said that in the open source software development plan, there is a lack of close cooperation between the Ministry of Science and Technology and Education and Training. Meanwhile, most schools, from high school to graduate school, use Microsoft products, which are mostly copyright infringement. "If there is no policy to unify throughout the Ministry of Science and Technology, Education and Training, Post and Telecommunications, the systems, whether open source or closed, will not be able to exchange data," Mr. Cong analyzed. " I hope the Ministry of Post and Telematics will be a bridge for other ministries to work together. There must be a legal basis to promote action. Decision and strategy must go ahead ."

Mr. Vu Duc Dam, Deputy Minister of Post and Telematics, affirmed that it is impossible to "push" open source to the opposite of commercial software, but how to enhance creative potential in this area. " We cannot create the impression of using open source to oppose and replace all commercial software. It is necessary to cooperate in anticompetitive, antitrust to create mechanisms to force users to choose public equals between types of products, whether open or closed, sold or not, temporary or long-term, "said Dam.

Deputy Chief of IT Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology admitted that implementing the open source software development strategy is very difficult. But the view of this ministry is to implement the integration between open source and commercial software. " I hope Vietnamese people try to use products and solutions that are beneficial and suitable to their economic capabilities and conditions, " said Nguyen Trung Quynh. " If buying a license, the money flows abroad, the tax is not much, and using domestic products, the money is deposited in Vietnam, reinvested, creating jobs to promote development ."

Nguyen Hang