Sun Microsystems (BETT stand X30) estimates UK schools could save pound;48 million by switching to its StarOffice 6.0 software, which is free courtesy of licences for eligible schools in the UK and Ireland. The savings are made by switching from market-leading productivity software like Microsoft Office. Publicity material quotes Dominic Stevenson, director of ICT at Sandwich Technology School, as saying his school saved more than pound;40,000 by switching to StarOffice.
Sun’s strategic relationships manager for education David Stephenson says:
“The bottom line is that Sun does not charge schools for licensing its StarOffice 6.0 office suite. The only cost is buying a CD-Rom media kit for pound;23 per school, which only has to be done once.” Teachers can also use StarOffice at home and on laptops for a nominal fee.
To register for a free licence visit Sun’s website for schools: http:uk.sun.commarketseducation