Open source software such as Linux will only grow in importance to businesses this year, according to a survey by market research company IDC.
The survey found that almost 60 percent of businesses said they spent more on open source software services last year as a percentage of their IT budgets. Quality assurance, testing and certification of open source computer systems were projected to increase by 150 percent between 2007 and 2008, according to those surveyed.
Saving money was the biggest reason those surveyed gave for adopting or expanding their use of open source technology. And IDC Worldwide Services and Emerging Services Opportunities Program Manager Gard Little said the economic slowdown in the U.S. may actually increase sales of open source services.
The businesses surveyed said that the biggest challenges that software and technology services companies face will be integrating proprietary software with open source software.
