Open source software means the source code of the software is available to all and it is not the sole property of one particular company. The source software can be built upon by any company. There is minimal entry and exit barriers which enable multiple vendors operate and maintain the open source software. As customers are not limited to the offerings of one particular vendor, they can choose another vendor operating from the same software.
The open source platform adds value to the user’s operations. Recent open source trends show that many companies keep their core server open source but offer certain other features as a part of the subscription. Current trend shows a lot of innovation and experimentation by companies to devise business models which provide the right impetus, added value and incentives to customers and push them to become paid members.
· Reliability - Open source software is highly reliable and is mostly developed through collaborative and community forums. Open source programs such as Apache, Sendmail, DNS and languages like Perl and HTML are time tested and proven to be highly reliable under the most strenuous situations.
· Affordable - Open source programs are constantly worked upon by developers who volunteer their expertise and time. This is the reason why these programs are highly affordable and preferred by many businesses today.
· Secure - Open source platform is also highly secure. Anyone who wishes to can examine and point out security flaws in the software.
· Quick solution deployment – It is no more necessary for consumers to wait forever to deploy solutions. Open source software can be procured after being test driven. It is highly preferred by inter-agency collaborators and is used increasingly for experimentation and rapid prototyping.