| Open Source applications can bring unique | | | | around the world to run on this platform. |
| value to business owners. Since the base | | | | Pretty much any application a business could |
| application development costs of open source | | | | require, no matter how specialized, can now |
| applications is free, small and medium | | | | be found in the Open Source community. By |
| business owners are able to leverage | | | | choosing an ASP (Application Service |
| previously unobtainable technolgies against | | | | Provider) provider that has experience with |
| their sales objectives, operational costs and | | | | these applications, and the necessary |
| customer satisfaction levels.Most small and | | | | infrastructure to host, manage & support |
| medium businesses cannot afford the typical | | | | these applications for you, a business owner |
| IT infrastructure model - nor does it make | | | | can now leverage core business applications |
| sense even if it is within their budget. | | | | at a fraction of traditional, "expected" |
| Consider the following expenses:Hardware | | | | costs. Although IBM has never been able to |
| Infrastructure (Servers, Routers, | | | | capitalize or deliver on their now famous |
| etc)BandwithSoftware licensesSoftware | | | | marketing slogan "Pay like a little guy, Play |
| maintenanceIT StaffThe creation, countinued | | | | like a big guy" - Savy business owners are |
| adoption and proliferation of Linux (Open | | | | learning how to accomplish this, even if it |
| Source Operating System) in many server | | | | isn't by calling IBM.Enterprise level |
| installations across the world has changed | | | | applications such as eCommerce, CRM, Content |
| the way businesses run their IT operations. | | | | Management and Portals are now available for |
| Although Linux is not yet a viable technolgy | | | | 100's of dollars setup, not 10's of thousands |
| in the workstation model, it most certainly | | | | or 100's of thousands dollars. Combine this |
| has gained a large market share in the server | | | | with low, fixed operational monthly hosting |
| application world. Companies adopting Linux | | | | and support fees - effectively eliminating |
| into their server environment have realized | | | | infrastructure, IT staff, software and |
| the decreased costs, increased efficiency and | | | | bandwith expenses - and the value statement |
| increased security associated with this | | | | becomes VERY strong for the typical business |
| platform. The secret is now out and | | | | owners.Other advantages with Open Source |
| organizations are jumping the Microsoft ship | | | | applications:Real time updates and upgrades. |
| at an ever increasing rate. This trend has | | | | No more waiting for your vendor to release |
| not been lost on the major players in the IT | | | | the next version before bugs &/or security |
| industry, as IBM and Novell have been | | | | holes are patched.Once a bug is identified |
| furiously waving the Linux banner and | | | | and validated, the Open Source community is |
| adopting the Linux penguin into all their | | | | quick to release a fix.Open source means open |
| marketing efforts over the last 12-24 | | | | and available code - unlike various |
| months.What does this mean to the typical | | | | proprietary systems, where source code is not |
| Small & Medium Business Owner?Since the | | | | available - application integration is now |
| proliferation of Linux, many applications | | | | affordable and possible, even for small |
| have been developed by programmers from | | | | business. |