Comments on: Open Source Exchanges: Can VARs Profit?

By: Ned Lilly

Ned Lilly — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:54:42 +0000

Um, yes it does. Have you looked at our software? PostBooks is licensed under the CPAL, the OSI-approved successor to the Mozilla license.

By: Lawrence D'Oliveiro

Lawrence D'Oliveiro — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:31:14 +0000

If you’re having trouble understanding, here’s a simple test: does your software guarantee the user the Four Freedoms? If not, then it cannot be called “Free”, can it?

By: Ned Lilly

Ned Lilly — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 01:41:39 +0000

No, what I said was “free PostBooks Edition and the commercially licensed Standard and Manufacturing Editions.” Free meaning, free of license fee. But to your point, we certainly do offer support and services around the PostBooks Edition – as well as the commercially-licensed Editions.

I think the same holds for many of the license-free items on the xChange; many of our partners make such itesm available at no charge, and see services/support/customization engagements from that initial interest. Others choose to offer commercially-licensed software for purchase and download.

Both models work, and our community (and product) are big enough to accomodate both.

By: Lawrence D'Oliveiro

Lawrence D'Oliveiro — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:55:00 +0000

“Free” versus “commercial” — see, that’s another misuse of the “free” in “free software”. “Free software” can most certainly be commercial and make money. Unless, of course, what your exchange is offering is merely “freeware”, which is crippled versions of proprietary software offered at no charge.

By: The VAR Guy

The VAR Guy — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:41:46 +0000

Ned: Thanks for offering more background about the xTuple xChange. The VAR Guy appreciates your insights. Please keep them coming. Oh, and thanks to your team for the channel briefings.
-TVG

By: Ned Lilly

Ned Lilly — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:28:43 +0000

Here at xTuple, we have a mix of free and commercial apps as well. All products in the xTuple xChange (http://www.xtuple.com/xchange) run on both the free PostBooks Edition and the commercially licensed Standard and Manufacturing Editions of xTuple ERP. (That’s not hard to do, since the GUI client is exactly the same across all three platforms, and the only difference lies in additional functionality in the database.)

Likewise, partners can sell commercially licensed apps or make their apps available for free download; we use the same “store” to support both.

Cheers,
Ned

By: The VAR Guy

The VAR Guy — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:57:49 +0000

Paolo: Thanks for the additional perspectives on Openbravo Exchange. Please keep The VAR Guy posted as you begin to see trends within the exchange.
-TVG

By: Paolo Juvara

Paolo Juvara — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:59:14 +0000

Lawrence: one key Openbravo Exchange differentiator for our channel is that we are enabling third parties to sell non open source, commercial applications based on the Openbravo ERP open source core. Openbravo ERP remains open source, but the license agreement of the commercial applications is such that you can deploy them only in conjunction with the Professional Edition of the open source application.
So the net effect that we are aiming for is for Openbravo Exchange to stir the sales of third party commercial applications, which in turn will drive demand for services (support and others) for the open source project and corresponding subscription revenues. – pjuvara, CTO of Openbravo

By: The VAR Guy

The VAR Guy — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:21:07 +0000

Lawrence: Hmmmm…. You caught The VAR Guy using a poor choice of words. Our resident blogger stands corrected and sees your point. The better choice of words: Can open source exchanges really stir application demand and support revenue?
-TVG

By: Lawrence D'Oliveiro

Lawrence D'Oliveiro — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:29:01 +0000

“But can open source exchanges really stir application sales?”

Of course not, since you’re not selling software applications any more, you’re selling support.

By: The VAR Guy

The VAR Guy — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:25:55 +0000

John: The VAR Guy appreciates the additional info. Please keep our resident blogger posted as Openbravo continues to grow the Exchange.
-TVG

By: John Fandl

John Fandl — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:15:54 +0000

Below is a blog post that provides a bit more detail, including how Openbravo Exchange provides multiple opportunities for the channel:

http://observationsonerp.blogspot.com/2010/01/launch-of-openbravo-exchange-erp.html

Disclaimer: I work for Openbravo.