According to the Messe Berlin, the appeal of the “LinuxTag 2008” which came to an end on Saturday in Berlin was even stronger than in previous years. In total almost 12.000 people from 31 countries attended this event for Linux and open source software which is the biggest of its kind in Europe. This corresponds to an increase by 21% as compared to the year 2007. The percentage of visitors from abroad also increased and reached 12% this year.
More than 200 mostly small and medium-sized entities (SMEs) and independent projects took part in the 14th LinuxTag. Mr. Jens Heithecker, director of the Messe Berlin, said: “The LinuxTag 2008 saw more visitors and more business. The event once more demonstrated that the combination of an internationally networked Linux community and commercial exhibitors is a formula for success.”
With about 100 participating companies the LinuxTag in Berlin strengthened its role as one of Europe’s leading forum for the commercialization of open source software (OSS). According to organizers, there were almost 30% more businesses participating than in 2007. Almost twenty percent of exhibitors came from abroad. The LinuxTag 2008 was particularly appealing to companies from the USA. Among exhibitors were e.g. IBM, Nokia, Novell, Oracle, Red Hat and Sun Microsystems.
Also a success turned out to be the CIO summit for IT decision makers as well as the traditional congress for businesses and authoritative bodies. Those in charge of IT systems within the Federal Interior Ministry as well as the Ministry for Foreign Affairs presented the Linux and open source strategies of the German government and its ministries.
The next LinuxTag will take place from June 24th to 27th in 2009. 