Article from Asia Open Source Centre (English)

MIMOS Open Source home page (English)

This is a great idea that enables distribution of Free Software for general use in a country which still doesn't have good internet infrastructure. MIMOS purchased a CD duplicator which lets them issue the CDs in a timely and cost-effective manner. The cost is USD 0.25 per CD, and postage of USD 0.25. The article points out that it is otherwise very difficult to obtain copies of Linux and other applications in Malaysia, as there are virtually no stores which sell such packages.


"To date, 451 packages, comprising 1148 individual CD's, have been sent to 233 people."

The article also includes an interesting breakdown of what software has actually been shipped and used to date.

We expect to see this idea copied in other countries which are faced with the same problem. While the payback will come in the longer term, it is bound to help users and eventually the countries themselves develop the information infrastructure and expertise they need.

Malaysia seems to be trying out other interesting original ideas, this one in the money department.

- Willy Smith, reporting from Costa Rica