Is it possible to completely replace Microsoft and Google software with European (open-source) alternatives? ITdaily tests it for you.
American technology giants like Microsoft and Google are deeply anchored in our digital ecosystem. From Word to Outlook and Google Chrome: the chance that you use at least one of their applications seems high to us. But do no European alternatives exist?
That question resonates louder today than ever. The whims of current American leaders are making companies think twice about whether they still want to use American technology. While Microsoft and Google are investing in local data centers and adapted cloud services for European companies, they admit themselves that they cannot guarantee full sovereignty. Only companies born and bred in Europe can do that.
Searching for alternatives
Sidelining Microsoft, Google and co. turns out not to be so simple. A recent poll by ITdaily among IT professionals shows that geopolitics certainly influences the choice of IT technology, but also that a third of respondents indicate they cannot find alternatives. Those alternatives are there, but European software does not enjoy nearly the same brand recognition as its American counterparts.
ITdaily is putting it to the test. In the coming weeks, we will examine European alternatives for tools that the editorial team uses daily. This will range from Office applications to video meetings, email, and more. We will look at open-source, self-hosted, and web applications based in Europe.
Do you want to get to know more European software and applications? You will be able to view all reviews via this page. Are there applications we should definitely test? Let us know here.