[plug] [link] Telstra eyes Linux

[Craig Ringer]

>>Telstra will explore using the open source Linux OS as
>>part of a new standard operating platform
> 
> 
> That would put them in danger of supporting Linux clients as well - shock, 
> horror, astonishment.

Very unlikely. They're almost certain to only support win32 and 
grudgingly MacOS (like now). Among other things, a linux deployment 
probably wouldn't affect their install "techs" or customer service 
types, so not much would really change from the direct user support end. 
As it stands, nothing @telstra is incompatable with linux AFAIK (when I 
had cable with them it worked great so long as I didn't use their mail 
servers and used iiNet's DNS as a backup). They aren't much more likely 
to re-train staff if they do deploy linux than they were before. At 
least at first.

Of course, if they do a really widespread deployment then after it sinks 
in and people get used to it, they might change their attitude to 
supporting linux. I wouldn't get my hopes up for a quick change though.

Disclaimer: I'm a _really_ bitter ex-Testra customer, and they _still_ 
haven't given me my money back on that modem 6 months later. Objectivity 
definitely not guaranteed.