M6-IT C.I.C. has found massive demand in the sector for support in the adoption of Free Software solutions – on the desktop, the server, and on mobile devices.

Others have seen the demand, and the successes, in the sector. Despite this the ICT Hub has substantially cut the portion of its largesse flowing to support Free Software, claiming that their is little interest. In the voluntary sector huge sums are spent annually on proprietary software – often inappropriate choices of application which reduce efficiency in the delivery of services – with much money going on expensive support from outside the sector, and expensive power-hungry hardware (while useful older machines head for landfill).

Earlier this month Chris Bailey, of CIAC's FOSS project, wrote a detailed and measured letter to the ICT Hub (PDF here), setting out the case for promoting Free Software in the voluntary sector. He highlighted dissatisfaction with the promotion work undertaken so far, and the move to further sideline GNU/Linux use in the sector in favour of solutions which would tie VCOs to the upgrade treadmill of single-vendor proprietary solutions.

Today Nicola Thompson answered on behalf of the ICT Hub (PDF here). Unfortunately the answer seems to show a failure of understanding on the part of the Hub. Thompson speaks of vendor-neutrality, while the Hub position promotes Microsoft's monopoly over the interests of thousands of suppliers of Free Software solutions. Software Freedom and GNU/Linux are disruptive technologies &en; changing the way that software developers, vendors, and support organisations work.

Free Software can be changed – by an organisation and its agents, or on their behalf by a body such as the ICT Hub or a CVS – to make the software fit your community group's needs. The conventional, proprietary software approach dictates that you must change your working practices to fit the software package. Nowhere are the changes more painful than in the third sector, whose needs vary so drastically from those of the typical business. For example, how many businesses need to split their electricity bill between 11 different funders on their accounts?

M6-IT work with Free Software because we believe that this is the only way to deliver effective IT solutions to the sector. We are glad that companies, government bodies, social enterprises and voluntary groups agree with us – and work with us to promote and deliver Free Software. However, without a clear national voice for the sector, promoting all the advantages of Free Software, we see more waste and inefficiency — in other words, sadly, business as usual.