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I just found this article at http://www.monthlysoftwareonline.com/ and thought it was generally useful.
101 Ways to Make Money off Open Source
Written by: Carlos E. Perez
[Here is a short article descibing many ways to monetize open source (and really any) software. I'll be expanding this list in a future article to really get to 101 ways! some thoughts include:
- Sell the application!
- Rebrand the application
- Sell the software on CD
- Sell services based on the products
- Sell the "easy to use" installer (WinGIMP)
- Sell a "bundle" (RedHat)
- Sell the Windows version (Mnogosearch, MySQL)
- Charge people for new features
- Write articles about the software
- Sell caffeine to developers (Jolt Cola) :->
-- Editor]
== The list "101 Reasons Why Java is Better than .NET" was such a hit that even a vendor of .NET based software wrote that it was a source of "101 Product Ideas".
That motivated me to put together another list. Lately, I've been thinking of how to make money on open source Java. I asked a supposed expert, but he didn't answer. So I decided to consult the Hive Mind by building a list. I hope to get a lot of creative contributions. It's the "Lazy Web" in action!
So why 101, well just like with my previous list the reasons are the same. "101 reasons is actually a pretty ambitious number, however its always good to aim high first. If you don't succeed you could always relax the criteria for success! " So here's the latest accumulated list:
- Sell the Reference Manual ( JBoss)
- Sell a subscription of the documentation (CDN)
- Sell the Installer (Out of the Box)
- Sell Custom Software Development (CDN)
- Sell Pre-Integrated Applications (JCorporate, RedHat ACS)
- Sell "Enterprise" version. (WSAD, Sun Studio)
- Sell Extensions (Instantiations, Embarcadero, SlickEdit )
- Sell a Consumer Device (Tivo)
- Sell Proprietary Software by improving Open Source Software (Poseidon)
- Sell Code Management Services (Sourceforge, Sourcecast)
- Sell Hosting Services (JCentric, WebApp Cabaret, EApps)
- Become an Application Service Provider
- Sell Conferences (JBoss)
- Charge for changing the License (SOFIA)
- Sue people using Open Source (SCO)
- Publish books for Open Source (Oreilly, Manning, Wiley)
- Sell A Book (Jason Hunter, Martin Fowler)
- Sell Development Tools (see Adalon, Camino for Struts)
- Sell a Magazine (Open source magazine)
- Sell Business Applications (Compiere, Ofbiz)
- Sell Speaking Engagements (NFJS)
- Sell Open Source Migration Services
- Sell White Box Hardware (Penguin)
- Sell A Subscription Plan for Integrated Components (MyEclipse)
- Sell A Network Appliance (SourceFire)
- Sell Project Management Services (Assembla)
- Sell Training (CDN)
- Sell Advertising (SourceForge, Javalobby, TheServerSide)
- Sell A Proprietary Product, Advertise using Open Source (RefactorIT)
- Sell Computer Time (Internet Cafe)
- Sell Gaming Time (?)
- Sell Proprietary Software built using Open Source Software Tools (Ant, JUnit, Eclipse)
- Sell Proprietary Software Bundling Open Source Software (WebMethods, Cysive)
- Sell Support and Maintenance Plans (JBoss)
- Sell Certification (JBoss, RedHat)
- Sell Systems Administration Services
- Sell On-Site Consulting and Coaching (CDN)
- Sell Remote Debugging and Trouble Shooting (CDN) [duplicate of 34?]
- Sell Open Source Application Specialized for a Particular Domain (Timesys for Realtime domains, Xemo for Music)
- Sell Accessories ( ThinkGeek , JoyOfTech )
- Sell Network Usage ( iMode )
- Solicit Donations
- Sell Glue to tie it all together (10xSoftware, platinum solutions )
- Sell PDAs (Sharp)
- Sell Cellphones (Motorola Linux based)
- Sell Insurance (Open Source Risk Management)
If you were observant enough, you would notice that the list has a slant towards Java open source projects. That's just my bias.
Roger Willcocks Software Engineer MSCD.NET L-Space Design http://www.l-space-design.com/ "Putting your experience to work"
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