BBC News - Open source marks a new era for African independence

BBC News - Open source marks a new era for African independence

OpenOffice.org was invited to present at IDLELO, and I very much regret that we could not make it, as the African situation is both interesting and pressing. However, the funding arrangements were difficult to come by--it's expensive to go there and put on a show--and the organizers were unable to subsidize our presence there. But the opportunities are limitless, especially as governments in Africa turn to Foss and see the possibilities. Right now, of course, we have the South African government offices quite interested in OOo and its proprietary version. But Africa is large, very large, and only Foss can offer what its people need today and tomorrow. Africa has a future and it is the Africans' to write, using OOo as the pen, ink, paper.