Microsoft putting up an open source lab in the Philippines

[gerryb23]

I read in one of the newspapers that Microsoft is putting up an open source laboratory here in the Philippines? What does this mean? Is Microsoft gearing towards open source now? Also, I read in the paper that Microsoft is encouraging IT professionals, enthusiasts, and the like to participate in the said laboratory.

[Samhain13]

"What does this mean?" It means MS are putting up an open source lab in the Philippines.

"Is Microsoft gearing towards open source now?" Supposedly. (Perhaps an underlying question is "are MS serious in embracing FOSS now?" From what we know of their history, it's doubtful; but maybe it's different this time around, who knows?)

"I read in the paper that Microsoft is encouraging IT professionals..." Not a question. But if you're asking whether FOSS people are going to be interested in doing stuff in the MS lab, then we'll just have to wait and see.

[jsgotangco]

Microsoft maintains 2 open source licenses that are recognized by OSI:

Microsoft Public License
Microsoft Reciprocal License

Not to mention that they also run a community that hosts a lot of open source projects built on Microsoft technologies at Codeplex. Our company has participated on Codeplex via the Npanday project (http://npanday.codeplex.com/). We recognize the fact that operating systems, whether open source or proprietary only acts as a platform to build software hence, it shouldn't be a surprise for professionals to participate when necessary.