Wednesday,Oct 21 2009, 08:58:25 PMUnderstanding Open Source Software

What is it?

Open source software means the source code is available to the public. You are able to change, add and configure it as you wish, and use it for commercial and personal projects.

How much does it cost?

Its 100% free, no strings attached. No license costs, and available to all.

If its free, why do people charge for it?

We charge for our time in setting up and customising the software to suit your business. Having the cost of the source code at zero, we can pass these savings onto our customers. The Open Source Directory Project claims ‘savings of about $60 billion per year to consumers’ who have adopted open source solutions over the paid for versions.

What are the hidden costs?

There are no nasty ‘per user’ license costs hidden away here. To be honest, you only need to factor in updating and maintaining the software with the latest security patches, this is standard practice to keep at the leading edge and reduce risks of hacking and down time. These costs are minimal over the course of a year – average being 2-3 updates a year.

Is it only for budget websites?

No! Open source software is a great way to save on costs, regardless of the size of your business. See the examples below for some global corporations who are using the software.

Can it be customised to reflect my company brand?

Yes. That’s part of what you pay for!

So, who uses it?

Everyone from home users, small business and global corporations. The software is extremely flexible, making it appeal to all business models.

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