Dell to Offer Open Source App Bundles for SMBs

While we've all been speculating about whether Dell is working on Android netbooks, the computer hardware and software vendor was busy bundling open source applications to offer to small- and medium-sized business (SMB) customers looking for low cost alternatives to commercial software. The pre-configured "SMB-in-a-box" software is only available in the U.S. for now, but Dell expects to lauch a similar offering in Asia by the end of 2009.

In a bit of a backhanded compliment to its customers, representatives of Dell say the move is designed to make software selection easier for companies that are smart enough to consider open source alternatives as a cost-saving measure but lack the expertise to make educated choices.

Although no specifics have been given about which apps are inlcuded in Dell's first bundle, it is aimed at the retail sector. Amit Midha, president of Dell's Asia Pacific and Japan region for the SMB business, told NetworkWorld the nod to retail is beause of the industry's initially high operating costs to open several stores at once. Future bundles will be targeted toward healthcare, advertising, and manufacturing.