2010: Russia’s Open Software Market to Grow 4-fold
Analysts say the Russian open software market is to grow 4-fold and reach $200mln by 2010. Server software will account for the largest sales volume in the segment.
May 17, 2007
The development prospects of Linux client platform are not high in Russia and mostly depend on the government policy.
Finam research center analysts said open software sales did not exceed $50mln in 2006. However, the market grows faster than the whole IT industry. If the Russian IT market increases 3-fold and reaches $40bln by 2010, as experts forecast, the open software segment might grow 4-fold and reach $200mln by that time. Server software sales will be the largest on the market, where open software might account for 50%. The server software market itself is believed to account for 10% of the total server market. Researchers believe the share of open software in Russia will significantly exceed that of the US and Europe.
Meanwhile, the development prospects of Linux client platform are not high in Russia. Linux accounts for only 0,5% of the client OS market in this country. Finam IT Investment Center Director Elina Karaeva believes Linux might strengthen its position on the market only with support from the government. "If this doesn’t happen I fear the open client software market will remain on its embryo stage. If the government continues its policy of using Microsoft software products at schools, open client software market will have even less chances for further development", she believes.
It seems like Windows will remain the leading client OS in the nearest future. "Russia is basically a "Windows country"", Ms. Karaeva told CNews. "People got used to Microsoft products. The share of counterfeit software in Russia is definitely big, about 80%. Its availability formed the existing client platform market. Open apps based on Windows, Firefox, OpenOffice, and Gimp platforms are still more popular than Linux. They are installed on 5-7% of computers and their share is growing along with the toughening copyright regulations.
Analysts note that Linux vendors are traditionally present on the mobile device market. According to forecasts the OS might become the leader in the segment accounting for 40% of it by 2010. "Currently the share of mobile devices with Linux OS is not big in Russia as compared to other countries, such as China, for instance. However, the producer’s policy, Nokia in particular testifies to the fact the situation is changing for the better", Ms. Karaeva concluded.
Finam research center analysts said open software sales did not exceed $50mln in 2006. However, the market grows faster than the whole IT industry. If the Russian IT market increases 3-fold and reaches $40bln by 2010, as experts forecast, the open software segment might grow 4-fold and reach $200mln by that time. Server software sales will be the largest on the market, where open software might account for 50%. The server software market itself is believed to account for 10% of the total server market. Researchers believe the share of open software in Russia will significantly exceed that of the US and Europe.
Meanwhile, the development prospects of Linux client platform are not high in Russia. Linux accounts for only 0,5% of the client OS market in this country. Finam IT Investment Center Director Elina Karaeva believes Linux might strengthen its position on the market only with support from the government. "If this doesn’t happen I fear the open client software market will remain on its embryo stage. If the government continues its policy of using Microsoft software products at schools, open client software market will have even less chances for further development", she believes.
It seems like Windows will remain the leading client OS in the nearest future. "Russia is basically a "Windows country"", Ms. Karaeva told CNews. "People got used to Microsoft products. The share of counterfeit software in Russia is definitely big, about 80%. Its availability formed the existing client platform market. Open apps based on Windows, Firefox, OpenOffice, and Gimp platforms are still more popular than Linux. They are installed on 5-7% of computers and their share is growing along with the toughening copyright regulations.
Analysts note that Linux vendors are traditionally present on the mobile device market. According to forecasts the OS might become the leader in the segment accounting for 40% of it by 2010. "Currently the share of mobile devices with Linux OS is not big in Russia as compared to other countries, such as China, for instance. However, the producer’s policy, Nokia in particular testifies to the fact the situation is changing for the better", Ms. Karaeva concluded.