Mandrakesoft to Provide Open Source Software for Bridging North/South Information Gap

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the ADEN cooperation program, and Mandrakesoft, European leader in Linux systems, intend to put Open Source software at the service of bridging the North/South ~"information gap~". The ADEN pack is an economical and flexible solution for Internet centers of the South. It aims to foster the development and use of Information and Communication Technologies in Africa through the creation of a network of public Internet access points. Mandrakesoft has designed the Open Source ADEN - Mandrakelinux pack, which is easy-to-use, multi-lingual and adaptable software solution. The worldwide community of free and Open Source software will drive the development process to fit the product to their needs. The African instructors, coming from 13 English, French and Portuguese-speaking countries, will help set up the ADEN access points starting in 2004. The pack will be available as a free download from Mandrakelinux and ADEN websites.