How corporate America went open-source

Why it works in corporations

    There are good reasons for these technology companies to participate; open-source doesn't necessarily mean free, after all. Just like printer companies almost give away the printer to sell the ink, open-source companies often give away the software platform, then make money by charging to install, configure, upgrade, troubleshoot, or provide additional bells and whistles for it.

    The key benefit for the companies that coalesce around a particular open-source platform is that open-source encourages innovation and the rapid expansion of the market can lift all of their boats.

    That market is growing, with open source software helping power everything from the engines of the original internet to the latest mobile phone operating systems and cloud computing platforms. Google's Android software — which runs a host of smartphones from Motorola, Samsung, LG and others — has surpassed Research In Motion and Apple's iOS to become the most-used software in smartphones sold to consumers in the United States; unable to compete in the smartphone market, the flagging Nokia just open-sourced its own proprietary operating system, called Symbian, a well-worn workhorse which is more than a decade old.

    Economic malaise has certainly driven many companies to seek out open-source systems for a wider variety of applications, with some recent surveys showing tighter budgets to be behind about 40% of corporate migration to open-source software. But Accenture notes that budget constraints are not the only reason for the move, with many companies saying they think that open-source software now offers greater quality, more reliable and better security than proprietary systems.

    Although an uptick in the economy could curb some of the growth, experts like Herbsleb believe open-source penetration in corporations will continue to accelerate. He notes that the demand for software is growing rapidly in every area, with the average car containing more than 20 processors alone, and industries from banking and insurance to medical care all facing growing technology needs.

    Open source development provides an increasingly efficient and cost effective way to deal with those needs, while enabling customers to avoid being locked into one vendor or being forced to use its approved partners when they need service or support. Over the next decade, Herbsleb predicts such forces will drive the market for open-source software to "increase dramatically."