FOSS HISTORY BY MARTIN VOSS

Agenda, definition history licence models and pros and cons

foss definition, technically/legally it is software, not hardware not documentation

<kaeru> note: these could be links <ulinskie> it is publishedunder a license which has been approved by either the fsf or osi

Developement policy objectives

<rjian> the status of CICT in developing countries

• Digital divide between countries
• also between regions within countries

--> iel (n=yelbetan@202.61.68.151) has joined #iosn

<rjian> welcome back iel

<iel> yeah rjian just rebooted to implement upgrade to edgy eft

<kaeru> - ICT also has an iimportant role for MDGs?

• ICT has a range of technologies from radio to computers

<kaeru> Example

• Mobile phone based project - SIMPill? in South Africa

• SMS Server on this project is running FOSS

another example Simputer (Open Hardware)

• <kaeru> OLPC - One Laptop Per Child

FOSS core values are in line with FOSS and MDGs?

• Freedom
• Equality
• modify and redistribute
• same access to the software for all

ICT Sustainability

• flexible contracts for support and maintenance to local providers

Security

• introducing diversity into the base of function software code
• FOSS allows to verity data integrity and security

eg. German Federal Foreign Office usses hardened Linux System for 115 embassies - NSA working on their own Linux version

IPR

• FOSS provides legal alternative
• FOSS for transfer of wealth
• combined with cheap labor = to create competitive advantage
• FOSS enables countries to be producers

ICT policy options

• procurement policy
• incentives
• keep internet free

resource: IOSN FOSS and Government Policy primer

Examples

South Africa

• proceeding to FLOSS adoption as an enabling approach

Brazil

• Pernambuco, mandatory law for FOSS

China

• indirect, developing Linux through government companies

Case Studies

<rjian> China: indirectly developed red Flag Linux <kaeru> - translate.org.za for african languages

Health

• Wrong radiological diagnostic services

sustainable livelihoods

• Laos remote villages using wirelss
• villages using KDE (see APDIP ICTRND grants for this project)

Awareness

• IOSN
• IT@FOSS

Awareness building at all levels

advocacy provided by

• linux user groups
• Creation of market demand

Conclusions

<rjian> FOSS is a appropriate tool in developement cooperation

<kaeru> "Core values are consistent with MDGs? (not only goal) but more importantly the process that needs to be undertaken"

"if you achieve the goal without participation, it ends up being useless"

"ICT helping people for health is even more relevant, with villagers co-operating and organising support groups"

"Only issue is then is adding advocacy for villages"

"From social development viewpoint FOSS works, but needs more case stuides in support of FOSS"

"Need case studies'

<kaeru> "co-operative movement (ph) also supporting this)

FOSS in Action

martin Voss

Impact of FOSS on IT Industry

Porter's Five Forces Framework

• attractiveness of market
• competitive rivalry within industry
• bargaining power of supplies and custoemrs
• threat of new entrants
• threat of substitute products

Bargaining power of customers

• buyer concentration to firm concentration
• buyer volume
• buyer switching costs

Bargaining power of suppliers

• concentration ratio
• no substitutes
• threat of forward integration
• importance of volume to supplier

Threat of new entrants - barriers to entry - product differences

Threat of substitutes - loyalty - differentiation

Competitive rivalry

• number of competitors
• rate of growth
• intermittent over capacity
• exit barriers
• brand equity

New Threats to FOSS

• FOSS substitute products
• Rising customer power
• new entrants, lower barrier to entry
• developer communities can handle complexity
• increasing intra-market competition

<kaeru> from customer prospective:

• entry barriers reduced
• standarized software stacks
• prerequsite for dot.com boom in late '90s

Summary: FOSS changed the rules of the game!

• Lower barriers of entry into the markets
• Traditional vendors threatened by subsitute products
• Price decline due to increased buyer's power

Response - FUD - Fear Uncertainty Doubt - mainly IPR issues - example IBM vs SCO (FUD) - change of business models

• commoditization of software products
• who is going to pay for an office suite/database/os in ?? years
• How to make money from commodity products?

Words of caution

• software is not better (technically) just because it's FOSS
• FOSS can be seen as an enabler, it empowers people
• FOSS doe not make a business profitable
• FOSS has to support the business case and the processes

<zakame> of course, FOSS is a tool not a panacea

Which efforts should be realized?

• different application scenarios

relates to - strategy and leadership - realization and organization of software projects - competences and know-how - technology and project management

Strategy and leadership

• does management support the efforts
• is mgmt ready

Realization and organization of software projects

• Does the company provide a proper organizational structure

• dedicated dept
• steering committee

Competences and know-how

• respect to their knowledge about process management and controlling

Technology and project management

• Level of existing technical infrastructure - are new tech necessary?

Building a Business on FOSS

Patick D. Reidenbach

What are SME Concerns?

• Poor infrastructure
• Viruses and other malware
• poor security
• lack of data and funcationality
• expensive software
• very aggressive anti-piracy campaign

"A lot of SMEs? don't have IT staff"

<rjian> FOSS is Ideal for SMEs? by Patrick D. Reidenbach very aggressive anti -piracy campaign

<marko> many SMEs? do not even have IT people Patrick says: a lot f SMEs? turn to piracy

<kaeru> for 40 workstation office Total is over USD35,000 on licenses only office suite, os, file server, mail server - does not include installation costs

<marko> Patrick has a prior costing...

<kaeru> - not counting other proprietary applications - not counting maintenance

Patrick "Most companies feel they should implement it themselves because they've spent a lot of money already on licenses. But the implementation is a failure." <marko> TCO studies claim that only about 8% of TCO is initial licensing --> beorn (n=beorn@fw.exoweb.net) has joined #iosn <marko> that's TCO studies from developed countries ... <purserj> is there any from developing countries? <kaeru> <marko> purserj: I'm not aware of one, but would assume there are <kaeru> Their company needed to rationalize their software licenses Cost was too high for proprietary software We researched and trained on Linux <purserj> greebo might know <rjian> ursolutions start out cost was too high for proprietary software <kaeru> Saw business opportunity <rjian> - rel -saw a business opportunity <kaeru> ok rjian you go.. <marko> ursolutions had an in-house need that they satisfied and then turned into a business model offering to do for others what they had done internally "anti-piracy" campaign gave them additional thrust <rjian> ursolutions conduct a comparison study..

typical SME IT problems

-various licenses -obsolete hardware -incompatible functionality -incompatible file formats -many illegal copies(often carelessly installed) how to shift to linux & open Source? <marko> the strategy ursolution followed: <rjian> stage 1 convert servers <marko> migrate the servers first only directly affects the IT people <rjian> stage 2 install Open Office --> pusakat (i=xenos@203.167.88.65) has joined #iosn <marko> a lot of whining and complaining at first <rjian> Stage 3 convert workstations <marko> macros needed conversion, formats were messed up took some time to iron out the wrinkles <rjian> stage 4 implement open source application <kaeru> btw the wiki is now open publically <marko> Patrick says: you can stop at any stage <rjian> reasons why open source is ideal for SMES: -software cost free and open source - hardware cost - linux can run on old hardware <-- greebo has quit (Read error: 110 (Connection timed out)) <rjian> -stability -linux is resistant to viruses. <marko> most of the company had converted to Linux before the myDoom outbreak the department that hadn't got "wiped out"

<rjian> Reasons why SMEs? dont use open source

1. lack of awareness 2.Can't or don't want to change existing OS

<marko> chalenge to convince business people that this is serious software "why don't they advertise?" <rjian> 4 optios for a vital application that runs on windows

-it might run on linux -there maybe an open source equivalent - you may use a windows emulator like VMWare?, wine and Crossover office - keep it on windows:install a hybrid system some software that runs on both linux and windows -open office -mozilla -the gimp -etc..

some silly reasons user refused to shift to linux

• "where is the neighborhood button?"
• i want to install my favorite screen saver
• i want to download from the internet and play netwok games.
• IT tech staff was worried he would look stupid

<pusakat> s/supid/stupid <rjian> hehe sir eric thats stupid sorry for that FUD - fear uncertainty Doubt

• you dont know anything about it

informaton is freely available on internet -what if it doesnt work well? actual linux and open source performance is openly given by user - its not backed by any major corporation reliable open source projects are backed by thousands of programmers. - you dont get support support comes from companies like us. - Itll disappear tomorrow. genie is already out of the bottle and disappear

Why do IT projects Fail?

-lack of planning and direction <-- beorn has quit () <rjian> -unrealistic expectation -poor projects management -inadequate budget - inadequate management support

How do the ursolutions business do?

• ursolutions are IT consultant
• we help companies develop an IT PLAN
• we help plan the migration
• we provide support