Open Source Channel Alliance Gives Resellers All-in-One Access to Open Source Apps

by Kristin Shoemaker - Apr. 14, 2009Comments (0)

While frugality isn't by any means the only reason a business should consider open source software, it would be foolish to think that the current economic situation isn't making it more attractive to companies. There is often, however, an imposing barrier standing in the way of all-out adoption. The mythical "learning curve" involved in moving to open source isn't half so steep or intimidating as that first step -- where do we go, what applications are best for us, and how do we put it all together and make it all work?

This week, Red Hat and IT services distribution provider, SYNNEX, announced the formation of the Open Source Channel Alliance. The Alliance's aim is to help value-added resellers and solutions providers deliver all the benefits of open source applications to their customers.

Red Hat's vice president of channel sales, Roger Egan, feels that the time -- and market -- is right for such a partnership. The increased pressure to manage costs is undoubtedly encouraging companies (and the resellers who serve them) to take a serious look at open source software. The fact that the OSCA is strongly associated with Red Hat -- and that for many outside of the tech industry, Red Hat is synonymous with open source in the enterprise -- the Alliance's offerings feel financially sound and technologically trustworthy.

There are nine charter members of the OSCA: Alfresco, Likewise, Pentaho, EnterpriseDB, Ingres, Jaspersoft, Zenoss, Zimbra and Zmanda. These companies provide open source applications and services that Red Hat identifies as both enterprise-ready and supported by Red Hat Enterprise Linux and JBoss Enterprise Middleware. Bundling and supporting these applications takes some of the burden of assembling full-fledged open source solutions from resellers, giving them a greater opportunity to show their customers the benefits of a streamlined open source package.

Gathering open source applications that work especially well together makes life easier for resellers, and ultimately, the companies they serve. Streamlined, cohesive open source offerings aren't out of any reseller's reach, but putting these applications and services together is likely not an effective use of the reseller's time and resources. An alliance consisting of numerous open source vendors, coupled with Red Hat's reputation and SYNNEX's reseller market presence is a logical, effective way to demonstrate all open source has to offer to a wide variety of businesses.


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