Some have been extremely vocal about their support for Linux and even formed alliances to customize and promote the open-source operating system (OS), while others have opted for a more quiet, wait-and-see approach.
"Most interest in Linux has been in Australia, China, Japan and Korea and this momentum is coming from governments rather than enterprises," said Robin Simpson, Gartner Australia's research director.
The X-factor
The biggest draw of Linux as a server OS is that the software is almost free. Other operating systems, such as those in the Windows and Unix families, come with an up-front fee as well as tariffs based on the number of clients or users connected to the server.
Linux opponents will cite a different figure: Total cost of operation. They say that over time, their systems cost less, if factors such as tech support and performance are considered.
Asian governments are attracted to the idea that the Linux source code--the instructions that make up its functions--are open for reading and editing. In countries like China, this assures leaders that their servers don't have sinister back doors leading straight the Washington.
Finally, nationalistic ego drives Linux adoption, because it can be revised to reflect a country's concerns. Like a national car, fighter plane or missile, a national operating system is a source of 21st century patriotic pride.
The North Asia alliance ,br /> In March, Japan, South Korea and China signaled their strong endorsement for open-source with the formation of an alliance to develop a Linux-based OS and related applications.
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Besides being Asia's fastest-growing IT market, China has also emerged as one of the strongest proponents for an alternative to Microsoft Windows.
In the mainland, Linux has already made inroads into a slew of government ministries such as the National Ministry of Science, the Ministry of Statistics and the National Labor Unit.
In December 2001, the Beijing municipal government snubbed Microsoft and awarded six software contracts to Chinese vendors, including a deal for 2,000 desktop OS seats to Red Flag Linux, a state-linked Linux developer.
Not to be outdone, the Japanese government is also mulling a Windows replacement and has assembled a panel of experts to study the feasibility of open-source deployments in the public sector.
Singapore: Wait and see
Authorities in other Asian countries like Malaysia and Taiwan too have voice their intent to invest in open-source projects.
Noticeably missing from the fray is Singapore, one of Asia's most mature and sophisticated IT market, who has instead taken a more conservative stance on this issue.
A spokeswoman from the Infocomm-Development Authority (IDA) of Singapore, the island-state's tech industry regulator, has confirmed that it is not looking into implementing Linux on a government-wide basis.
"Singapore seems more closely aligned with Microsoft and traditional commercial software development companies," said Gartner's Simpson.
The Asia Open Source Center (AsiaOSC), a Malaysia-based organization advocating the use of free and open-source software in the region, echoes his sentiment.
Singapore is a pioneer in the introduction of computing technologies, but this has resulted in a high degree of influence from proprietary software companies, the AsiaOSC said on its Web site.
"There is a high degree of resistance to move to free and open-source products, especially on the desktop," it added.
Despite its seeming opposition, Singapore has quietly taken baby steps on the open-source front, possibly setting for stage for a more concerted push in time to come.
For example, IDA said it has now included Linux as a server OS option for government tenders and contracts, along with other alternatives such as Microsoft's Windows 2000, Sun's Solaris, IBM's AIX and Hewlett Packard's (HP) Unix.
In addition, a conference on open-source software is also scheduled to take place in the city-state for the first time this October. More surprisingly, the event is supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board and IDA, organizations traditionally viewed to be pro-Microsoft.
Not leaving Microsoft behind
The software giant from Redmond is not taking the march to Linux sitting down. To win favor with governments, Microsoft is to reveal its closely-guarded Windows source code to authorities around the world as part of its Government Security Program (GSP).
In Asia, the company has opened its code to the China and in other parts of world to Russia, NATO and the United Kingdom. Microsoft said it is also in discussions with more than 30 countries, territories and organizations regarding their interest in this program.
