Open source picks some new fights
Published: 22 Nov 2004 15:45 GMT
The open-source components from ObjectWeb, Apache and commercial company JBoss generally already have a following of software programmers. Adoption within businesses, however, hinges largely on whether there is adequate commercial support behind the products, according to industry analysts and executives.
That's where companies like Gluecode, and start-ups like SpikeSource and SourceLabs, come in. Those companies have founded their business on the notion of selling subscription support services around a certified and integrated package of open-source software.
Gluecode provides support and maintenance services for a bundle of open-source products, which are available under the Apache open-source licence. With a suite called Joe, the company sells services for the Geronimo Java application server, Pluto portal software, Derby database, and Agila workflow software.
The company has certified that its stack runs on Intel's IA64 processor, used in server hardware, and it's trying to sign on hardware providers to bundle and distribute the Joe suite. At a price of $3,500 a month for support and regular software updates, Joe will undercut both established Java companies as well as Microsoft, argues Gluecode CEO Winston Damarillo.
The Geronimo application server has a modular design, which lets customers install add-on products such as a portal and integration software as needed, he says. Gluecode also sells management software to ease installation and administration.
SpikeSource and SourceLabs both intend to offer services around the so-called "LAMP" stack of open-source software. The stack includes the Linux operating system, the Apache Web server, the MySQL database and PHP development tools.
JBoss, too, sells consulting and support service around freely available software. The company has an application server that is popular with Java programmers, and it's expanding the number of products, including a workflow server, that it develops and supports.
Apache, ObjectWeb and JBoss are each developing separate middleware products based on their respective Java application servers and have different open-source licences. JBoss recently certified that its software adheres to the Java 2 Enterprise Edition, or J2EE, standard. Geronimo and Jonas are seeking J2EE certification as well.
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