[ossig] when u hv a big market, everybody will kau tow to u....

[Nan Phin <nplee@tm.net.my>]

China to see Windows source code
     By Staff, Special to CNETAsia
     Friday, February 28 2003 7:51 PM

     BEIJING, China--Microsoft today signed a pact with Chinese officials to reveal the
     highly-protected Windows operating system source code, making China among the
     first to benefit from its program to allay the security fears of governments.

     What's more, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates hinted that China will be privy to all, not just part,
     of the source code its government wished to inspect.

     The Chinese government and military have previously stated their preference for the rival Linux
     operating system because its source code is made publicly available.

     Without knowing the inner
     working of an operating
     system--a fact revealed by its
     source code--governments like
     China fears that back doors
     may be installed to leak out
     sensitive information.

     The China Information
     Technology Security
     Certification Center (CNITSEC)
     signed an agreement with
     Microsoft to participate in
     Microsoft's Government
     Security Program (GSP).

     Dr. Wu ShiZhong, director of
     the CNITSEC reaffirmed that
     information technology security
     was a key issue for the
     government.

     "Microsoft's GSP provides us with the controlled access to source code and technical
     information in an appropriate way. It also establishes cooperation between China and
     Microsoft. Microsoft has taken a step forward to let us understand its product security," he
     said.

     Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, who is visiting China, said: "As part of Microsoft's commitment
     to creating a trustworthy computing environment, we are pleased to have signed this
     agreement. As a government customer and trusted partner, we are committed to providing the
     Chinese government with information that will help them deploy and maintain secure computing
     infrastructures. We see this agreement as a significant step forward in Microsoft's relations
     with the Chinese government."

     In January, Microsoft announced the GSP plan, under which it will share the source code
     underlying its Windows operating system with several international governments, a move
     designed to address concerns about the security of the OS.

     In a press statement, Microsoft said that last month it announced GSP agreements with
     Russia, NATO and the UK. Microsoft is in discussions with more than 30 countries, territories
     and organizations regarding their interest in the program.

     Chinese President Jiang Zemin also spoke with Bill Gates in Beijing. Jiang said China
     welcomed Microsoft and other well-known global companies to invest in China and seek
     common growth.

     Gates briefed Jiang about Microsoft's investment in China and gave an update on how it was
     sharing the source code of computer software. No details were given on what software would
     be part of the information deal.

     In order to develop its own software industry and maintain security, China has produced its own
     version of Linux, Red Flag Linux, as well as its own office productivity suite, RedOffice, which
     go head-to-head with Microsoft's own Windows and Office packages.

--

best wishes.
/nan phin

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.



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