|
Open source software returns control to the user, opening the door to innovation as well as cost savings
Inner Circle Subscriber Center
Get the content that meets your interests and needs:
Not a member?
|
Many in our industry think of open source software as a synonym for free, as in “free beer”. But those who truly understand the open source movement know that the real value of open source software lies in the freedom it provides to users. Freedom to innovate, to participate and to benefit from the collective wisdom of communities, not just companies.
Users of open source software are free to use the software for any purpose, study how it works, and adapt, refine, and improve it. Once they have downloaded it, they can amend the code and tailor the product to suit their needs.
The open source movement began more than 25 years ago. Over that time, it has progressed to the stage where users of open source software are looking for enterprise scale technology and support services, which businesses including Sun can provide them.
Sun has been involved in every step of the open source journey. Bill Joy, a driving force behind the original UNIX standard — one of the first open operating system standards — went on to found Sun Microsystems with Vinod Khosla, Scott McNealy and Andy Bechtolsheim.
Sun’s commitment to the open source movement hasn’t changed. Open source is the basis of Sun’s business strategy and entire product range, spanning everything from the Solaris Operating System to Open Storage to open source databases such as MySQL.
What does Sun’s open source strategy mean for your business?
Freedom to innovate
Open source software delivers freedom from vendor lock-in. Businesses don’t have to buy Sun hardware to run Sun software. OpenOffice can run on any PC, for example, and OpenSolaris runs on many non-Sun servers.
Businesses also have the freedom to tap into the developments of a huge pool of experts. They're free to use software that has been developed by a community of millions of highly talented individuals.
This community’s contributions enhance Sun’s software to bring technological innovations to the market and to your business.
Sun’s three-pronged commitment to the open source model demonstrates how its strategy is leading to the highest quality products possible for organisations. Sun aims to deliver value to customers, not just cost savings:
- Build software as a foundation.
- Grow developer and customer communities.
- Improve product quality for enterprise solutions.
This strategy enables organisations to benefit from the freedom of open source software but with enterprise-scale technology and the support of a trusted vendor such as Sun.
Open source savings
Open source software delivers a highly innovative range of solutions that provide higher value when compared to proprietary software.
OpenSolaris, OpenOffice, MySQL, GlassFish, Java, and many other open technologies are freely available to download. Open Storage, for example, can save businesses up to 75 per cent of their storage costs, through the combination of open source software and industry standard storage hardware.
In the current environment, organisations are finding that using open source software gives them the flexibility, scalability and the innovation they need to gain an edge on the competition.
Find out how you can save with Sun’s open source software offerings, Open Storage offerings, and developer communities.
If you want more information on topics covered in this issue of Inner Circle, please contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Goodlace
Managing Director, Sun Microsystems ANZ
| 
