Moscow will earmark 150 million rubles (3.5 million euros, 4.9 million dollars) to develop a national software system based on the Linux operating system, Russian deputy Ilia Ponomarev told AFP, confirming an earlier report in the Vedomosti daily.
"The devil is in the details," said Ponomarev, a computer expert, adding those details would be hashed out during a December meeting headed by vice-prime minister Sergei Ivanov.
"We will become independent of Windows ... but it risks becoming an unthinking implantation of Linux," he added.
Russia wants Linux-based alternative to Windows
Posted on Saturday, October 30 2010 @ 12:00 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
AFP reports the Russian government has earmarked 150 million rubles (about $4.9 million) to develop a Linux-based Windows rival to reduce its dependence on Microsoft and improve computer security.