Open source software (OSS), a low cost alternative to proprietary programs, is rapidly gaining popularity in the software-as-a-service (SaaS) industry.
Because of the structure of open source, with readily available code for users to change and develop for their particular needs, it is extremely adaptive, responsive, and more secure than the commercial counterparts.
Software-as-a-service is a delivery model where a vendor develops an application and hosts it for use by their clients over the internet.
In this business, customers do not have to pay typically hefty licensing fees but instead pay the vendor a periodic fee to use the software.
SaaS is generally thought to be a low cost alternative for businesses to obtain the benefits of commercially licensed programs without the high initial cost and internal complexity of running such programs.
The idea for SaaS began to circulate around the year 2000 and it has gained in popularity since that time.
According to research by Gartner, up to 90% of SaaS companies will be based on OSS within the next 2 years.
The analyst firm states open source solutions can be used in the operating system, application server, or database to reduce overall expenses for the company.
Robert DeSisto, vice president of Gartner, proclaimed "the more SaaS vendors use open source in the technology stack, the lower their software acquisition cost becomes.
" This cost cutting, however, is not expected to be passed on to the consumer of SaaS services though.
Gartner expects the SaaS companies will either reinvest the saved money to improve efficiency or may pocket the money to elevate their overall profitability.
In addition to the use of open source software by SaaS companies, user communities can utilize open source methods to facilitate data and application sharing.
Self-policing can occur when both the data and the source code is available for everyone to see, making illegal practices less likely as watchdog groups are naturally created.
It is important for businesses and users to not infringe patents in their quest to lower costs.
Software-as-a-service provides a legal alternative for companies interested in using licensed software but who are financially unwilling to pay the steep prices associated with such programs.
Because of the structure of open source, with readily available code for users to change and develop for their particular needs, it is extremely adaptive, responsive, and more secure than the commercial counterparts.
Software-as-a-service is a delivery model where a vendor develops an application and hosts it for use by their clients over the internet.
In this business, customers do not have to pay typically hefty licensing fees but instead pay the vendor a periodic fee to use the software.
SaaS is generally thought to be a low cost alternative for businesses to obtain the benefits of commercially licensed programs without the high initial cost and internal complexity of running such programs.
The idea for SaaS began to circulate around the year 2000 and it has gained in popularity since that time.
According to research by Gartner, up to 90% of SaaS companies will be based on OSS within the next 2 years.
The analyst firm states open source solutions can be used in the operating system, application server, or database to reduce overall expenses for the company.
Robert DeSisto, vice president of Gartner, proclaimed "the more SaaS vendors use open source in the technology stack, the lower their software acquisition cost becomes.
" This cost cutting, however, is not expected to be passed on to the consumer of SaaS services though.
Gartner expects the SaaS companies will either reinvest the saved money to improve efficiency or may pocket the money to elevate their overall profitability.
In addition to the use of open source software by SaaS companies, user communities can utilize open source methods to facilitate data and application sharing.
Self-policing can occur when both the data and the source code is available for everyone to see, making illegal practices less likely as watchdog groups are naturally created.
It is important for businesses and users to not infringe patents in their quest to lower costs.
Software-as-a-service provides a legal alternative for companies interested in using licensed software but who are financially unwilling to pay the steep prices associated with such programs.
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