[EuroPython] Looking for profitable companies that rely on/develop Open Source

[Michael Sparks]

Hi Laura,


A handful (aside from Clocksoft/Resolver/... :) that spring to mind for me 
(I'll forward your mail to them):
    * Thoughtworks
    * Blue Fountain
    * Open Advantage (OK, they're an open source consultancy who's services
       are free, but this quote may be useful in finding companies they've
       assisted to use open source: (they're also nice guys :-)
         "We have helped over 750 companies gain a business advantage by using
          open source solutions."

There's also the "open source consortium", who are a trade group who represent 
companies in this area.
   * http://www.opensourceconsortium.org/

Their list of members (which is probably useful :-) is here:
   * http://www.opensourceconsortium.org/members

It's not exhaustive though, I can think of at least 4 companies not on that 
list... (clocksoft, resolver, thoughtworks, c-dot consultants)

The BBC also relies on open source to deliver the BBC's online service.
Indeed its conceivable that the BBC couldn't deliver the BBC's online
service *without* open source. (Not just because of the cost aspects, the 
website relies heavily on modifications & extensions, some of which are 
published at www.bbc.co.uk/opensource )

He may also want to be aware that the EBU are also making similar moves in the 
open source world, to the extent there was a seminar recently there (which I 
was chairing :-). That's written up here:
   * http://www.ebu.ch/en/technical/opensource/

I've given talks on the BBC's use of open source before, but the one which I 
wrote up here is perhaps useful to him as well - http://tinyurl.com/yd4j2y .
This document is based on the presentation given in the "Business Briefings"
track at Linux World London Olympia 2006. 

The slides for that presentation are here: http://tinyurl.com/3c2xz6 - but I 
was having a go at lessig style slides (useful given the amount of material), 
which feel more like subtitles than slides, so the blog entry above is 
probably better. 

Bit of a brain dump I know, but hopefully useful :-)

Michael.


On Thursday 25 October 2007 05:38, Laura Creighton wrote:
> About a month ago I was at an EU meeting where I met David Callahan
> who is Deputy Head of Unit for the European Commission in the
> Information Society and Media Directorate General. (i.e. a very
> important person, not a minor functionary) He is interested in
> building the case that 'open source is good for Europe'.  It seems
> that while he _knows_ of the existence of European companies who make
> a living supporting Open source products or developing using Open
> Source, he doesn't actually know many personally.  So he needs real
> data with real companies, instead of just 'anecdotal evidence'.
>
> If you have the time, can you send me a paragraph saying:
>
> The name of your company
> What Open Source products are contributing to your financial success
> How many employees you have
> and
> if you would be interested in disclosing financial information to
> him that could indicate how OS is helping European economies.
>
> He is particularly interested in small consulting firms.  He thinks
> that the EU hasn't been counting them when it has been trying to
> measure its own IT industry, which results in people concluding
> that we don't have much of one.
>
> You can say more, of course, but since he will probably contact you
> directly, there is no need to tell all in the first mail.
>
> I've promised to send him lists of companies every week, so that his
> mailbox doesn't overflow with mail from all you folk.
>
> Thanks very much for your time,
> Laura Creighton
>
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