Open Source CMS Awards, second edition. This year the UK Publisher Packt has expanded the Award for 2007 with an increase in prize money and the addition of new categories. Nominations for each category will be open until Friday August 31.
Last year my friends at Joomla! won, while Drupal placed second, but they are already working to pull ahead this year!
Monthly Archive for July, 2007
Today Open-Xchange - a company specialized in open source e-mail and collaboration solutions, based in USA with its R&D in Germany - is announcing the availability of Open-Xchange Express Edition, designed to address Small Businesses needs.
Open-Xchange last February invited the small business community to participate in a public beta for the Open-Xchange Express Edition, and entered the hosting market in march, launching the 1u1 Mailxchange service together with 1&1 Internet.
Juergen Geck, Open-Xchange CTO and formerly SUSE CTO at Novell, talking about the the today’s launch told me:
It is a turnkey solution, that turns a baremetal server into a collaboration server based on Ubuntu Linux, running Postfix and Cyrus Imapd. The install image is freely downloadable, fully functional, no restrictions, no timebomb or suchlike, no requirements for Linux background to set it all up.
One CD contains all. We are trying to do for collaboration in SMBs what Ubuntu is trying for Linux.
So I asked Jurgen why should I buy it..
Because of the maintenance and support, plus the “low touch” installation [through an extended Ubuntu Installer] and the outlook installer [a proprietary plug-in].
..and also what about Mobile extensions:
Funambol coming up.
From a Marketing perspective OpenXchange is addressing market needs with two different offer: Open-Xchange 5, a customizable on end, complex, for who needs integration through VARs, and Open-Xchange Express Edition: lock down, turn key, low touch, through Resellers and Distribution channels. Jurgen stated:
Especially in US we had feedback that resellers wanted something easier. OX Express Edition [eval version] is for people who like our service offering, the hosted edition, but shy away from putting their data somewhere offsite.
I eventually asked Jurgen how do they think to protect their business, considering that the competition could put in action predatory practices.
We feel that with 10 years track record of architecting collaboration servers we have the capabilities to stay on top of our technology stack. Besides that consider that more than 50% of the performance are from the user interface [CC attribution, no commercial, share-alike], and we are going to evolve this code base quite a bit over time. We expect to drive evolution and stay in the lead, having a strong commitment to osgi, specifically eclipse equinox, and you will see our server coming up as a collection of osgi services, making it very flexible to customise. Last but not least the hoster infrastructure is normally very diverse, so integration becomes essential. At 1&1 they maintain their own smtpd and imapd, plus all the plumbing for billing and accounting, and the capability to efficiently integrate in such environments is a plus in our offering.
Three interesting points, really. Thank you Jurgen, happy hacking!
About Open-Xchange
Open-Xchange is licensed under the GPL for the software program, and the Creative Commons, Attribution, Noncommercial, ShareAlike for the digital content or Web Access Add-on.
About Open-Xchange Server
Open-Xchange Server delivers Smart Collaboration™ that simplifies everyday life, work and social interactions. It is based on AJAX, open source software and open standards and offers reliable and scalable messaging and advanced groupware solutions. Open-Xchange Server offers email, calendar, contacts, tasks, and knowledge management. Unique features of Open-Xchange Server include: Infostore, a common repository of documents, bookmarks and knowledge entries; Documail, the integration of email and document sharing/version control; Smart Links between all collaboration objects; Smart Privacy, that let’s users define read and write access to all collaboration objects; and Universal Access, the ability to access the server from the widest variety of browsers and clients. Organizations use the Open-Xchange Server’s GUI-based administration module featuring Tiered Entitlement to implement role-based user management.
About Open-Xchange Inc.
Open-Xchange Inc. is based in NY the innovator of scalable and integrated open source email and collaboration solutions for enterprises, academic institutions, and government authorities. Open-Xchange Hosting Edition enables web-hosting companies to provide an easy-to-use and feature-rich application delivered as Software as a Service (SaaS). Internet service providers (ISPs) and hosting providers, led by 1&1 Internet, deliver advanced email and groupware features through Open-Xchange Hosting Edition to millions of users. Open-Xchange Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Tarrytown, NY, with research, development, and operations in Olpe and Nuremberg, Germany. For more information, please visit www.open-xchange.com.
By the Numbers: How I built a Web 2.0, User-Generated Content, Citizen Journalism, Long-Tail, Social Media Site for $12,107.09 - Guy Kawasaki explains how easy has been to set up Truemors thanks (also) to Open Source.
Government agencies embracing open source: AGIMO - Australian Federal government agencies are adopting open source software, according to a study undertaken by the Australian Government Information Management Office.
Two in three (68 percent) of respondents to an AGIMO survey of federal government agencies said they are actively using FOSS.Geek Road Rules: Joining the Adobe Bus - Dion Almaer joined the “Adobe Bus“. I am sorry I missed the opportunity to listen to his talk about Google Gears(PDF).
Open Source And IT Outsourcers - Prashanth Rai sees a battle between (open source) outsourcers and Open Source firms, and imagines a win-win finale, with an alliance between the two sets (and a lose/lose for proprietary software firms).
OpenCoffee club for entrepreneurs, developers and investors - Thanks Nick, I didn’t know about the OpenCoffee initiative, I suggest Amanda to start a local meet-up for Italian start-ups!
Autoreferentiality: me in the press! - The Italian Business Free Press “7th floor” interviewed me. Also the Italian newspaper “Il Manifesto“, interviewed me, by Raffaele Mastrolonardo. Last but not least the SUN Microsystems Italy magazine Java Open Business (JOB) interviewed me for the second time, podcasts (in Italian as well) are also available.
“The Family Guide to Digital Freedom,” June 2007 edition is now available for purchase at Lulu.com, have a look at the website to know more.
Marco Fioretti, the aythor, is a freelance writer living in Italy, he did write also “File Format: Hidden traps in OpenDocument (or any other open standard) and how to avoid them“, an interesting article about problems and issues related to every open standard.
Below some information about the book and also an excerpt of the book. Continue reading ‘Book: The Family Guide to Digital Freedom’
The Free Software Foundation few days ago released the GNU General Public License version 3, as earlier draft versions it doesn’t “fix” the SaaS Loophole, leaving unhappy some entrepreneurs.
A Substantial hole, by Rich.w
While I have already expressed my concerns commenting others’ posts, I believe it is time to tell it straight and loud. In my opinion GPLv3 got on stage too late, now there are simply too many stakeholders to take a decision like closing the GPL Loophole and SaaS could seriously prevent Free Software take over, more than anything else.
I am not alone, at linux-mag wrote:
More than the patent protection, more than the digital restrictions, this one change to the GPL could have the biggest impact on the license’s importance in the future.
Also Tim O’Reilly took a clear position, stating:
There are both popular and unpopular ways of circumventing the Free Software Foundation’s General Public License. A very unpopular method, we’ve come to find out, is via promises of patent protection for users of specific software. However, if you’re looking to leverage Free Software without completely fulfilling the requirements of the license, a better method would be to exploit the software as a service (SaaS) loophole, which the latest draft of the GPL3 just legalized.
The Joomla! community has been discussing a lot business model based on the GPL recently. The FSF is cracking “open” door to the SaaS, leaving them - and not only them- a chance to de facto ignore the license.
A number of people is happy with the GPLv3, but I am not. This has not been a strategical decision, neither a tactic one, but the only available now. And I blame Richard to postpone it until too late.
I am really sorry about that.
Few months ago IDC Italy, responsible for organizing the local Linux World OpenSolutions Summit, canceled the Italian event, and I commented it with Seth Grimes, who in turn wrote me about Gartner Open Source Summit.
Before reading Seth’s post, I had a look at their agenda, and I found it quite different from the Italian event. Like the North-American IDC conference held in February (program , PDF), also Gartner decided to address vertical issues, but they didn’t choose to address industries neither specific technical tracks like “Linux on the Desktop” or “Virtualization”.
The brochure (PDF) reports two different track: track A sounds designed for enterprises who are working on implementing an Open Source Strategy, while track B looks more to the future.
Despite I am definitely not a Gartner’s fan, and considering that people like Bruce Perens would have been much better than Gartner researchers, I guess that there is a Gartner’s audience, and they will probably go to listen to the Open Source Vendor Scorecard for 2007, may be even the next year, and the next next one.
Game (almost) Over by si3illa
The one-size-fit-all approach is not here to stay, the internet is heavily changing the way companies reach customers, and the way customers look for advices. Seth wrote:
True to form, all summit presenters are Gartner analysts. Outside participation is limited to a couple of keynotes. Gartner is sticking with their usual all-knowing, ex cathedra approach. Absent is the community spirit that lends open source its power and vibrancy.
Does Gartner get open source? While I’m sure that individual Gartner analysts do, I wonder that an open-source event without meaningful practitioner and community participation can adequately suggest real-world implementation strategies.
I am looking forward to see RedMonk’s unconferences, Lugradio, replacing quadrant games, a pretty annoying and biased game played by pretending to be open source analysts.
OSCON Thu 26.7.2007: “The MySQL Architecture of Participation - Kay is going to talk about how MySQL will try to lower the threshold for external developers to contribute to MySQL.
Gobuntu is… go - The freedom-focused flavour of Ubuntu, named “Gobuntu” is live.
Can SourceForge style the self-support of open source? - Alex Fletcher sees SourceForge Marketplace as a viable development tool for the enterprise. Both the open source community and the company could benefit of it, he says. I totally agree.
Returns on open source VC investments - Savio tells us more about VCs investments.
LanguageTool: Open Source Language Checker - open-source, rule-based language checker, it can be imported into OpenOffice.org via the extensions manager.
Ubuntu receives Readers’ Choice Award for the “Best Linux Distribution - (PRWEB)
A history of transparency - Patrick Mueller, Senior Technical Staff member at IBM, talks about his experience with “transparency” over IBM’s product development process.
OpenMoko’s open source mobile phone an iPhone alternative? - Ben Balbo writes about OpenMoko Neo 1973, just released to the public.
Blognation Italy has just been launched, it is part of the blognation network, a network of bloggers reporting in English on Web 2.0 technology, mobile and enterprise start-ups.
Amanda Lorenzani
I already happened to video-interview the Italian Editor Amanda Lorenzani, a Rome/London based blogger, portal manager at Excite UK with a background in technology PR and communications. When at the vlog barcamp she kindly promised me to give some light on her last adventure, below her answers.
What will blognation Italy be covering?
News from web 2.0 and mobile start ups, product developments, events and the venture capital market. We’ll also be tracking the most dynamic innovators, entrepreneurs and bloggers. We’ll also be looking at the open source space and its impact on development and innovation. Italy has a wealth of talented individuals, creativity, skills and an increasing desire to grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem and blognation’s mission is to raise awareness of the activity happening in the country.
How many countries will you be covering?
The UK site launched last week in beta, which is being followed by Germany and Italy. Throughout the course of Q3 and 4 we’ll also be launching Ireland, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Japan, China, Australia, Brazil and South America.
An ambitious scope! Why has blognation chosen to report in English only?
Some top quality start ups are emerging from many countries, led by innovative entrepreneurs. There are also excellent local language blogs covering these developments. The English speaking world faces a challenge understanding what’s emerging from outside its sphere and blognation’s vision is to help bridge the communications gap.
How do you see the start up ambient in Italy?
Optimistically. There is huge growth potential and enthusiasm is certainly not lacking! CEOs I’ve spoken with so far have expressed cautious but definitely positive views on how the ecosystem will expand. Lack of support and an infrastructure not adapted to the needs of start ups is always cited as an issue. blognation wants to support growth in this area by providing a source of information to venture capitalists, angel investors, analysts, multinationals and entrepreneurs within Italy and also to a global audience.
What can we expect to see coming up on blognation Italy?
There are some great start ups emerging from Italy – Mobango, Zooppa, TheBlogTV, Segnalo, yoo+ to name but a few. It will be exciting reporting the development of these dynamic new companies. We’ll also be tracking news from the start up hubs like Netwo and First Generation Network and interviewing the innovators in the sector.
Thank you Amanda, I wish you and blognation Italy the best of luck!
PS: If your start-up is not listed among blognation companies, feel free to send details about your start-up directly to the editor (amanda.lorenzani
About blognation.
July 1st, 2007 saw the launch of blognation, a federation of blogs reporting daily updates on Web 2.0 technology, mobile and enterprise news from all over the world. Currently editors do cover some European regions (United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Italy, Iceland, Netherlands) and other countries like Israel, Japan, China / Taiwan / Hong Kong, Australia, Brazil, South America. USA is not going to be covered, because there are already many outstanding blogs focusing on technology start-ups. Yesterday were announced two more blognation countries - Germany and Italy and despite they define themselves in “pre-beta” (trial & test mode) they are scheduled to rollout two or three countries each week throughout the summer.
The Federal Communications Commission responding to a petition for clarification filed by Cisco, asking about the policy on the confidentiality of software controlling security in Software Defined Radios. The Freedom Software Law Center concluded that the rules do not restrict the activities of independent developers and distributors of FLOSS designed for use with SDR devices.
Cisco and its too big but favorite chew-rope by Kenny and Steve
FCC position about the open source concept doesn’t harm me really, neither I am worried by the (false) assumption about open source insecurity, due to the inherently public nature of source code. It is just the obsolete “security by obscurity” statement (read also Jeff Kaplan “FCC: Open Source Idiots” on the subject).
But as the SDR Forum, I am concerned about the following issues:
In particular, the SDR Forum is concerned that the policy may discourage standardization of security methods that would be in the public interest. For example, an SDR Forum member might decide to withhold its security approach from the Forum’s membership because doing so might reveal aspects of the approach that “could be defeated or otherwise circumvented.”
Common based peer-production can really foster industry collaboration in order to develop the best security practices, and the new policy could prevent this to happen.
The policy may also discourage new business models that would improve the quality of SDR security and lower its costs. Seemingly implicit in the Commission’s order is that the radio manufacturer and security mechanism developer are vertically integrated – i.e., one company provides both functions. However, for the most effective techniques to be implemented across SDR and cognitive radio markets, they need to be shared across multiple manufacturers.
Hence firms need to share many aspects of their security techniques, the businesses requires so, otherwise the Commission won’t take advantage of the benefits of a competitive marketplace.
Technological clubs are not an easy game to play, making them not compliant with FCC rules would greatly help large integrated firms just like… Cisco, I am afraid.
David Wheeler kindly suggested me to read the last number of the DoD Software Tech news - a periodic published by the Data & Analysis Center for Software - entitled “Open Source - The future is Open” (registration required), and it really worths reading.
David Wheeler by swhisher
Before talking about why FAR, the Federal Acquisition Regulation, demands agencies to look at open source software when procuring software, I wish to report Gen. Charles Croom priority list for how DISA - the Defense Information Systems Agency - will acquire technologies and capabilities in the future. Defined by the acronym “ABC”, as explained below:
The “A” on that list stands for adopt. The general maintains that his agency will do what it can to take advantage of past investments by adopting both what is in the marketplace and what is in the U.S. Defense Department inventory. This approach is at the heart of providing network connectivity to the warfighter.
The “B” is for buy. If the agency cannot adopt something already on the shelf, then it will go to the marketplace and buy what is needed. While this lacks the economic savings of using what is at hand, it nonetheless takes advantage of the efficiency in commercial developments.
If neither A nor B can help DISA carry out its mission, then the agency will employ its “C”—create. Only if all other avenues fail to produce the needed goods or services will the agency generate its own customized solution.
In terms of the “A,” DOD is a large-scale adopter of Open Source as results from what observed Brigadier General Nick Justice, the Deputy Program Officer for the Army’s Program Executive Office, Command, Control and Communications Tactical:
Open source software is part of the integrated network fabric which connects and enables our command and control system to work effectively, as people’s lives depend on it. When we rolled into Baghdad, we did it using open source.
With respect to the “B,” Chuck Reichers, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition and Management, said:
We want to pay for unique intellectual property when it’s best of breed, but not succumb to code and vendor-specific lock-in situations. Acquisition of proprietary solutions needs to be a conscience choice, not an assumption.
Last but not least the “C,” with the living example of the Navy’s SHARE (Software, Hardware Asset Reuse Enterprise) repository. James Shannon, program manager for future combat systems open architecture, observed:
But the fact that today we are putting systems that were solely owned or thought to be solely owned by other companies and the fact we have shared them with other companies, I will tell you OA (open architecture) has arrived. We are definitely working to change our Navy business model and we are seeing industry change their business models as a result.
I am among them thinking that Open Source software shouldn’t be mandatory, but at the same extent I firmly believe that Open Source has to have an official seat at every Public Administration table.
Getting back to the FAR issue, considering that the FAR requires government agencies to conduct market research to determine if commercial items or non-developmental items are available, Wheeler wrote that:
An agency that fails to consider OSS options is in direct violation of the FAR, because it would be failing to consider commercial items.
Another reason that most extant OSS is commercial is because U.S. law says so. U.S. Code Title 17, section 101 defines “financial gain” as including “receipt, or expectation of receipt, of anything of value, including the receipt of other copyrighted works.” Most OSS projects are specifically established to encourage others to contribute improvements (which are copyrighted works), a form of financial gain and thus commercial.
I keep citing David’s work because it is really important that people get acquainted with the idea that “Commercial is not the opposite of Free-Libre / Open Source Software“, hence the name of my blog: Commercial Open Source.
The Software Tech News is published quarterly by the Data & Analysis Center for Software (DACS). The DACS is a DoD sponsored Information Analysis Center (IAC), administratively managed by the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC). The DACS is technically managed by Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, NY and operated by ITT, Advanced Engineering and Sciences Division.
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