Time: 9:30am - 10:00am 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11

Welcome Address by Mr Ramesh Chopra, Managing Director, EFY Group

Introduction to special guests and attendees. Lamp lighting ceremony by Dr Inder Singh, Brian Behlendorf, Dr M.G.K. Menon, P. Regunathan

Time: 10:00am - 11:00am 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Keynotes (KN01)

Abstract: Dr Singh talks about how Embedded Linux is headed for world domination. Embedded Linux is an unstoppable force Release 2.6 major step toward establishing Linux as embedded leader. The emergence of Linux as open standard multi-vendor "Platform" for off-the-shelf middleware and applications software. Software reuse, outsourcing will become more widespread in embedded development. Middleware and Tools become important differentiators. Reliability and Security will be strong requirements for growing numbers of applications.

Time: 10:00am - 11:00am 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Enterprise (EN01)

Abstract: The IT landscape is changing to accomodate a volatile and demanding business environment. Competitive advantage now increasingly depends on a company's ability to be nimble, evolve and rapidly respond to changing market conditions. In such a scenario, "On Demand" computing is becoming the new mantra. And open source as well as open standards based technologies are a critical part of such an environment. In this session we will discuss this emerging scenario, and the interplay of open source technologies therein.

Time: 10:00am - 11:00am 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Entrepreneur (ER01)

Abstract: Linux, Apache, Python, and other Open Source software have long since passed adolescence; there is nearly no engineering challenge for which there is no viable Open Source approach. Even recently, the pundits said it would be years before Linux made its way to the desktop; however we are seeing huge rollouts internationally, and in Thailand, Linux laptops are outselling Windows-based laptops. But how quickly will it really roll out in a significant way? How long before applications providers see Linux as a standard platform to support, the way they see Windows as a must-have currently? The limitations are not technological: they are entirely around product management, business models, and trust.

Time: 10:00am - 11:00am 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Social (SC01)

Abstract: This talk discusses Keltron's initiatives using free software for the state government of Kerala. Mrs Titus talks about various successful projects such as project management system for modernising government programme (MGP) of Kerala (industries dept and riab), MIS system for PSU's in Kerala, plan scheme monitoring system for industries, sc/st dept, loan monitoring sytem developed in zope and PHP/MySQL, knowledge village portal for panchayats developed in Post Nuke (operational in Karakulam panchayat, Thiruvananthapuram), all the 30 web portals hosted by Keltron so far for various government as well as private agencies are based on open source, all web services like web server, mail server, DNS etc are on Linux platform, and Keltron's effort to launch a local language (Malayalam) os, to be pre-loaded with Keltron PCs.

Time: 10:00am - 10:30am 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Technology 

Abstract: Who are free software developers, how do they create and manage their communities and most of all, why do they do it? An overview of how these communities can grow and thrive, despite broad goals and sometimes conflicting internal forces, using the KDE project and its evolution as a successful example.

Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Keynotes (KN02)

Abstract: Not received

Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Enterprise (EN02)

Abstract: With Linux fast approaching "enterprise class" status, Toyota Motor Sales deployed a marquee implementation of Linux to achieve multiple goals of speed, flexibility and simplicity for a system to deliver information across a nationwide network of dealers in the US. This enabled them to show an immediate savings of US $650,000 via Linux.

Without doubt, it is safe to assume that Linux has become a real enterprise alternative today. The example of Amerada Hess Corp., an oil exploration company shows that Linux is increasingly being leveraged to create low-cost computing clusters to process more complicated data than supercomputers. Linux adoption in the enterprise is poised for a phase of rapid growth in 2004. Any application that is written to run on UNIX machines can run well on Linux machines. What should be the approach for enterprises seeking to adopt Linux? What are the pros and cons of a managed deployment approach?

Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Entrepreneur (ER02)

Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Social (SC02)

Abstract: Not received

Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Enterprise (EN03)

Abstract: Information Management is the buzzword as everyone – individual or company is feeling the pinch of information overload. Effective information flow is the lifeblood of successful business operations, driving competitive advantage in terms of reduced cycle times, lower operational costs and expanded revenue opportunities. Information Management (IM) is a model for managing an organizations information based on business requirements related to effectiveness (i.e. business continuity) and efficiency (i.e. total-cost-of-ownership). New business drivers and regulations have added new requirements to the different types of information that must be managed including email, CRM data, and all types of long-lived customer records and business documents. IT organizations face major challenges in meeting the information protection, availability and accessibility requirements of these business-critical systems in the face of rapidly expanding user loads and exponential data growth. With their comprehensive solution suite, storage vendors have unique ability to help customers maximize business continuity while minimizing total cost-of-ownership via ILM strategies.

Linux credibililty is growing in enterprises as customers understand scalability and robustness of Linux. Linux has gained momentum in Storage area during 2003. It is a significant enabler for firewalls, email servers, application blades, and application solutions performing tasks such as virtualization and storage management. We will discuss trends in Storage from Linux perspective.

Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Entrepreneur (ER03)

Abstract: Not received

Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Social (SC03)

Abstract: Not received

Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Keynotes (KN03)

Abstract: Not received

Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Keynotes (KN04)

Abstract: The Indian software development industry is built upon formal process and models for coordinating development, such as the Capabilities and Maturity Model, or even the classic Waterfall or Continuous Integration models. This approach has worked well to garner the trust of nations seeking to work with Indian firms and to achieve high levels of quality. In contrast, Linux and Apache and other Open Source projects rarely have formal development methodologies. At times their development processes appear to borrow from Agile or Extreme Programming, but there's really something even more fundamental going on here: the role of the engineers themselves, as individuals, in representing and distributing their work to the rest of the world. The Open Source developer is as much a part of what makes his project successful, and often as important to the end-users, as the features that product claims to support. Why is this? And what could this mean for India?

Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Enterprise (EN04)

Abstract: Not received

Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Entrepreneur (ER04)

Abstract: Not received

Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Social (SC04)

Abstract: In order to adopt Linux, the common questions faced are where to start from, are there enough solutions available, can Linux solution exist in heterogeneous environment, which are the areas Linux can work, what support would be available, who would implement, who would provide support and like that. Some key steps along with right technology architecture ensures success of opensource adoption.

Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Keynotes (KN05)

Abstract: Not received

Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Enterprise (EN05)

Abstract: Not received

Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Entrepreneur (ER05)

Abstract: Not received

Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Social (SC05)

Abstract: Not received

Time: 4:00pm - 5:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Keynotes (KN06)

Panelists: Kishore Bhargava, Louis Suarez-Potts, Rishab Aiyer Ghosh, Sirtaj Singh Kang, Sudhir Gandotra

Time: 4:00pm - 5:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Enterprise (EN06)

Abstract: With Linux firmly established as a mainstream operating system environment, the open source development model has proven its ability to create competitive and cost-effective solutions. Open Source Architecture is Red Hat's Technology Strategy to extend benefits of open source model further up the software stack – to the middleware, application, and management layers – so open source benefits can be realized across the computing infrastructure. Red Hat believes that by openly describing its technology strategy customers can make better decisions regarding their adoption of open source solutions.

Time: 4:00pm - 5:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Entrepreneur (ER06)

Time: 4:00pm - 5:00pm 
Date: Wednesday, Feb 11
Track: Social (SC06)

Abstract: Launching a Linux PC, first India, then Worldwide

This talk discusses the benefits of Open Standards, and how businesses profit from them, through the building of transparent deals. It also discusses what organisations such as the Free Standards Group are achieving through open discussions with the ISO, IEEE, and IEC. The talk also gives a summary of eSys Distribution's launch in Oct 2002 of a Linux-based PC in India. It discusses the long history of the challanges, such as vendors, the dealer channel, entrenched peceptions on ease-of-use. We cover the mistakes we made, as well as the mid-course corrections. Mr Gupta also reviews briefly the current state of the Linux Desktop market, in terms of numbers sold worldwide.