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