Free Software Business Models
From MapbenderWiki
(Lesen Sie die deutsche Version von Geschäftsmodelle mit Freier Software)
One of the questions most often asked after people think that they have understood Free Software is:
- But how do you earn any money, if you give away the software for free?
There is exactly one answer to this question:
- By providing all the services which enable you to make good use of the software.
There are many services that help you to make good use of Free Software.
Contents |
Consultation
Consultation starts with the analysis of the problem, followed by a planning phase. Then follows the protoype implementation (server installation, application, SDI) which develops into the test system.
Installation
Installation can involve individual software components, update of a system, upgrade and patching of software packages, or setting up a complete SDI. The complete installation process is accompanied by a thorough documentation of every element of the system.
Training
Free Software can usually be downloaded within seconds, but the corresponding know-how has to be learned and any learning process takes time and effort. This applies to any software be it proprietary or Free. Always remember that there is definitely no direct and inherent correlation between the price tag on a software license and the ease of learning it. Check out the Geo-Integrator Training
Support
Support involves troubleshooting, debugging and patching. Most support is done via email or by telephone. Commercial and certified support can be obtained from the Geospatial Free and Open Source Software Company Directory.
Implementation of new Features
New features can be implemented to solve individual problems. Depending on the type of license and governance of the project the code can become of part of the main Development Head. Implementation sercvices (programming) can in most cases be obtained from anybody involved in develpoment. Check out the Mapbender Development Team. Some of the companies listed in the Geospatial Free and Open Source Software Company Directory have started, operate or maintain one or more Free Software or Open Source projects related to spatial information systems.
Hosting Services
Internet Service Provider (ISP) start to add spatial software services to their services. The growing adaptation of spatial components by standard technology helps to make it more broadly available. Simply by installing the operating system FreeBSD with Ports for PostgreSQL/PostGIS, UMN MapServer and Mapbender result in a full scale SDI.
Roundup
Back to the initial question, I usually tend to say that the question should rather be the other way round.
- Why on earth would anybody pay any money for the permission to make limited use of an inherently ubiquitously available and never degrading 'good' like software?
The only aswer that I know is Ignorance. Additionally corporations have a long standing tradition of using coercion.
From Wikipedia (read the full article):
- Coercion is the practice of compelling a person to act by employing threat of harm (usually physical force, sometimes other forms of harm). Often, it involves the use of actual force in order to make the threat credible, but it is the threat of (further) force which brings about cooperation of the person being coerced.
Threat of harm in this context refers to enforcing legal measures against Software Piracy.
