Katy over at Blogrel says that the adoption of Linux in Azerbaijan is making ground thanks to what might be a smart move by the government. Although commercial versions are available, Linux is a free open source operating system that can be adapted for local requirements, including language, and offers a low cost alternative to mainstream commercial operating systems such as Windows XP.

Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan Republic is expected to promote open source software in all high schools and install home-grown Linux distributive known as “Lin.az”. By the end of this year desktops and thin clients will be installed in 150 schools. Thin clients will be mainly used in large labs, while desktops will be installed in labs with a small number of seats. Nevertheless, final decision about the operating system has not been made yet officially.

For countries such as Armenia, the Linux OS and open source applications are not only adaptable to local needs and requirements, they are also usually free. However, Global Voices and Geekcorps founder Ethan Zuckerman, says that one problem frustrating its adoption by developing countries is the fact that widespread piracy often negates the benefits of lower cost equivalents.

[…] free software frequently costs users in developing nations more than proprietary software. Widespread copyright infringement means software often is available for the price of the media on which it’s delivered. In Yerevan, Armenia, I recently found Microsoft Windows XP and Red Hat 8 shelved side by side, both selling for less than $5 US.

In Armenia, this is especially true, and made doubly hard to circumvent because Yerevan’s CD and computer software shops all seem to be supplied by the same pirating ring. That said, when World Trade Organization obligations and the law on copyright actually kicks in, there’s no doubt that Linux will have to be seen a viable alternative to software and operating systems that few can afford at their recommended retail prices.

Already, there are signs of this happening in a few projects in Armenia. In addition to the Spitux project that Katy mentions, for example, there is also Open Source Armenia.

Currently, a large number of projects are developed by Open Source Armenia, including creation of electronic marketplace based on open source products, document management systems, web content management systems, etc.

OSA has already localized Open Office, Mozilla Firefox browser and Thunderbird E_mail client into Armenian.

For anyone interested, ArmInfo conducted an interview with The Director of Open Source Armenia, Armen Shahverdyan, here. There’s also an interesting article on the BBC’s web site on attempts to adopt Linux in Iraq here.

Regardless of the potential for Linux in Armenia, nothing much will happen until the government decides to fight copyright infringement and computer piracy in earnest. On the other hand, monopoly responsible for controlling the import of computer hardware into Armenia could first start to bring in more modems compatible with Linux. This is the only reason why I have yet to switch.