Easing into Open Source

Open-source software can save an organization money and open the door to customization, but it pays to know where to start and where to get help.  

When considering which software applications to buy, more and more midsize companies are considering open source-low-cost or free software whose source code can be modified by users or developers. Open-source software holds great appeal for these companies; not only is it generally much less expensive, but it is often more flexible, reliable, robust and customizable.

"The midmarket is often the right match in terms of comparable features to traditional midmarket products, [but] at less cost," said Jay Lyman, an open-source analyst with The 451 Group.

Open source also can represent a refreshing departure from the usual midmarket software sales cycle, as it allows organizations to try before they buy and even deploy and grow on the software at little or no cost, Lyman added.
 

Read the full story on eWEEK Midmarket.