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Open Source Weblog: December 2006 Archives
Oracle’s Unbreakable Linux proves unpopular
December 22, 2006
Oracle might have grabbed the headlines when it announced its plan to under-cut Red Hat with Unbreakable Linux, but it failed to attract significant customer interest if download statistics are to be believed.
Open Source Weblog: a year in quotes
December 21, 2006
The year began as it ended, with questions about Microsoft copyrights potentially being used to attack open source software. In between we had the debate over GPlv3, numerous Google rumours, IBM giving SCO a good kicking, Larry Ellison mouthing off, the worst prediction ever, and great big steaming pile of FUD….. here is the year in quotes.
Rate expectations: from downloads to customers
December 20, 2006
SugarCRM and JasperSoft have been shouting about their download and customer statistics this week – a surefire way to get some easy press in a quiet week – but while thousands of customers for JasperSoft and SugarCRM respectively is impressive, the conversion rate statistics are more interesting.
Filling the open source funding gaps
December 19, 2006
I should have noted when I posted the earlier article about open source funding (news story is here, incidentally), that the figures were not claimed to be exhaustive.
I specifically noted that the figures were for Linux and open source-related vendors tracked by Computer Business Review because - to be perfectly honest - we had some small gaps in our knowledge.
While I’m sure the figure of $404.5m invested into Linux and open source-related vendors in 2006 is pretty accurate, the figure of $963.0m tracked by CBR since the beginning of 2000 is an under-statement. We’d like you to help us fill in the gaps.
Open source funding up 131% in 2006
December 15, 2006
I am putting together a news story for Computerwire/CBRonline based on the amount of venture capital funding invested this year in the Linux and open source-related vendors we track. The key statistic: open source funding was up 131% to $404.5m in 2006.
Not surprisingly there were more open source funding deals struck in 2006 – 34 in total - than in previous years, while the average deal size also rose, to $11.9m.
IDC predicts Microsoft’s anti-piracy efforts will boost Linux
December 13, 2006
IDC is the latest of the analyst firms to push its predictions for 2007 out the door, and pretty interesting reading they make too: particularly the prediction that Microsoft’s anti-piracy efforts could boost Linux adoption.
Meanwhile, IDC seems to have had a slight difference of opinion with itself about the potential impact of Microsoft’s Vista.
Novell and Microsoft insist customers just love their deal
December 12, 2006
Despite skepticism from various quarters of the open source movement, Novell and Microsoft are insistent that their interoperability and patent peace deal is good for the customer, and they’ve commissioned a survey to prove it.
Red Hat customers: "show me the money"
December 11, 2006
It seems Pacific Crest and First Albany have been out surveying Red Hat customers to see whether they would be inclined to migrate away from the company's Linux support in the light of Oracle's cheaper service and Novell's patent peace with Microsoft.
The results are inconclusive. First Albany says Red Hat's customers will likely remain loyal, while Pacific Crest says Red Hat's customers have a price.
Novell explains its Linux revenue numbers
December 07, 2006
Novell has got back to me to clear up some confusion over its Linux revenue - notably how $13 million of revenue from Linux Platform Products in Q406 could be 32% more than $15 million of revenue from other Linux products and services in Q405.
Dear Novell, please stop messing about with your Linux revenue figures. Thanks.
December 06, 2006
Novell announced its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2006 last night, including “$13 million of revenue from Linux Platform Products, up 32 percent year-over-year,” according to its official statement.
That sounds like a pretty healthy performance until you notice that in the fourth quarter of 2005 Novell reported “$15 million of revenue from other Linux products and services”.
How can $13m be 32% more than $15m? What is the difference between “Linux platform products” and “Linux products and services”? I don’t know, but it is high time Novell stopped moving the goal posts and reported consistent figures for its Linux business.
I couldn't find control-alt-delete anywhere
December 04, 2006
But The Linux Equivalent Project is a useful list of alternatives to Microsoft nonetheless.
Why do vendors invest in open source?
The Harvard Business School has published the preliminary draft an interesting report that confirms one thing we probably could have guessed - that vendors invest in open source for economic, rather than altruistic, reasons - and calculates a number of things we probably couldn't - such as the fact that vendors invested $2bn in open source software between 1995 and 2005.
Birmingham rejects open source flop stories
December 01, 2006
There was something about this story that Birmingham City Council had turned its back on a migration to Linux and open source software that didn’t seem to make sense.
It wasn’t that anyone would apparently choose Microsoft over Linux – plenty of companies have and will do that – it was the fact that Birmingham, which has been one of the leading proponents of open source in the UK would do so.
Now the council’s head if IT has hit back at suggestions that it is walking way from Linux, maintaining that its open source project has been a success and it will actually use more open source software in the future.
Novell previews OES update, appoints Microsoft deal Tsar
Novell yesterday outlined the advances it will deliver with Open Enterprise Server 2, the first version of the product to be based solely on the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server operating system.
The company also appointed Susan Heystee, its recently appointed vice president and general manager for global strategic partners, to manage its controversial partnership with Microsoft.
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