June 25th, 2007
Copying Microsoft in a good way
Aping a world class business process is never a bad thing. Even when it comes from Microsoft.
So it is that the Open Solutions Alliance (OSA), which was created to build the Linux channel, has created a customer-level membership class. Redmayne-Bentley, a UK stock broker, is the first customer member.
Microsoft has brought customers into its own channel activities for years. Most recently, in 2006, it founded an Interoperability Council, aimed at helping customers with “mixed” systems, i.e. some open source.
It does seem sometimes as though open source has just begun crawling after an opponent who is running in full stride. But the rapid change inherent in technology does not make this a fatal flaw.
A vibrant channel will make open source a true threat, and seeing a hand get in front of a knee makes every parent proud.
Dana Blankenhorn has been a business journalist for 30 years, a tech freelancer since 1983. You can follow Dana on Twitter. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
Subscribe to Linux and Open Source via Email alerts or RSS.
