Alternative business models help Linux challenge Microsoft

The alternative business model helps Linux challenge Microsoft-general Linux technology-Linux technology and application information. The following is a detailed description. At present, professionalism makes the Linux operating system more and more powerful. From Motorola's cell phone to Mitsubishi's robot, from e-harbor servers to space stations of NASA, Linux has begun to get involved. The development of Linux has shaken the entire science and technology field, shaken Microsoft's consistent hegemony, and contributed a new way of software manufacturing to the science and technology field.

Different from Windows and Unix, the source code of Linux is completely open. Through the Internet, a large number of volunteer programmers have joined the Linux team to continuously modify and improve it. Under the principle of Linux, Linux is free for anyone.

So how does Linux make enterprises profit? Methods are diverse. distribution through Linux software is the most basic business model based on Linux. The issuer can distribute any restricted Linux software version obtained from anyone and any place to anyone without modification, and charge a certain fee to his customers. This behavior is completely legal as long as the issuer completes the obligations to the reseller under the GPL License (General Public License, General Public License. However, the issuer charges fees based on the cost of manpower and material resources in the distribution, rather than the license Usage Fee for programs or works. At present, most of the well-known Linux distribution companies, such as RedHat and Norwell, are distributing and package Linxu and user manuals, regular upgrades, and after-sales services, in this way, users are charged with the annual subscription fee for these additional services. The cost is divided into different levels. The service cost of a common Linux desktop operating system is only $35 per year, and the cost of a high-end server system version may be as high as $1500 per year. Linux has brought considerable profits to these distribution companies. RedHat now has 200 programmers, and the profits for this fiscal year are expected to be 3 times to 53 million US dollars, revenue also rose by 56% to $0.195 billion.

However, the profits and income to this extent are just a bonus for companies that sell personal computers and servers preinstalled with Linux operating systems. IBM, HP, and other companies are among them. Pre-installed Linux operating systems on the computers sold save a lot of the cost of the right to use compared to Windows, Unix and other operating systems, each computer can save a maximum of more than 1000 US dollars. At Hewlett-Packard, sales of servers preinstalled with Linux systems reached $30 billion in the last fiscal year, the highest record over the years, almost doubled over three years ago.

This business model is a "win-win" situation for Linux communities and technology companies. For Linux, these commercial behaviors increase the popularity of Linux and provide technical support for the continuous update and improvement of Linux technology. For technology companies, by providing technical or market support, you can make profits from low-cost release activities, or increase profits by saving the cost of expensive operating system copyrights.