Half of Large Organizations to Deploy More Enterprise-Wide Free Software in 2010
By Global Graphics, PRNETuesday, January 26, 2010
Research From Global Graphics Shows Huge Usage and Appetite for Free Applications Within Large Organizations
CAMBRIDGE, England, January 27 - GLOBAL GRAPHICS (NYSE-Euronext: GLOG): Around half of large organizations
(51 per cent) will deploy more enterprise-wide free software in 2010,
according to new research. The trend is partly driven by the pressure on
enterprise IT budgets; with two thirds of CIOs saying their budget is the
same - or less - than in 2009. The full report is available at
www.globalgraphics.com/freesoftware
Commissioned by Global Graphics, a developer of edocument and printing
software, the research also shows that three quarters (76 per cent) of large
organizations already use free applications across the enterprise. Indeed,
over half (54 per cent) of large organizations use more than 10 different
software products that are free. The findings are based on interviews with
400 CIOs from organizations with over 1000 employees across the US (300 CIOs)
and the UK (100 CIOs).
The most deployed piece of free software is Adobe Reader which is used by
78 per cent of organizations (at an enterprise or departmental level), with
Java Runtime Environment and Adobe Flash Player completing the top three.
QuickTime, OpenOffice, Google Docs, Skype and Microsoft Save as PDF also make
the top 10 most used free applications.
The main driver for using free software, cited by 47 per cent of CIOs, is
to complement existing desktop applications to extend functionality to users
that could not be provided using paid-for software. The replacement of Adobe
Acrobat was cited by 38 per cent of CIOs, while 24 per cent are looking to
free applications to replace Microsoft Office.
"Free software is a critical part of large organizations' IT strategies,"
says Gary Fry, Chief Executive Officer, Global Graphics. "Large organizations
are perfectly prepared to use free applications where possible, and upgrade
to a full paid-for version of the product where it makes sense for them."
Global Graphics - which develops software for Agfa, Quark, Fuji Xerox,
Kodak, HP - is fighting for a place on the corporate desktop alongside Adobe,
Google and Microsoft by providing enterprise-level productivity applications.
"That's why we created a free multi-format document viewer and creation
product - gDoc Creator - as part of our freemium strategy," adds Fry. "It
provides a free alternative to a lot of what is offered by Adobe Acrobat, a
paid-for application that 38 per cent of CIOs are looking to replace. That
creates a real opportunity for us."
Free software is used throughout organizations but is most prevalent at
the desktop (82 per cent) and application level (78 per cent), although 35
per cent of large organizations are also deploying free applications within
the data centre.
Global Graphics recently launched the most comprehensive enterprise-level
free PDF creation and viewing software; gDoc Creator -
www.globalgraphics.com/creator The easy to use free PDF software is
available for download by individual office workers and consumers, and is
available under a corporate licensing plan for the enterprise.
About Global Graphics
Global Graphics (www.globalgraphics.com) is a leading developer of
e-document and printing software. Its customers include Original Equipment
Manufacturers (OEMs), system integrators, software developers and resellers
and number the world's leading brands of digital pre-press systems, digital
presses, multi-function copiers and printers for the office market, as well
as a wide variety of market leading software applications.
Media contact Richard Botley Chameleon PR (www.chameleonpr.com/) +44(0)20-7680-5500 richard.botley@chameleonpr.com
Media contact: Richard Botley, Chameleon PR, +44(0)20-7680-5500, richard.botley at chameleonpr.com
Tags: Cambridge, England, Global Graphics, United Kingdom