Yuan Meng: Ubuntu business model

Today, free software (including its concept) has been introduced into China and is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. But is there a business model for free software? There are many sayings. What exactly? As you know, the Ubuntu release is a free software package. In short, its essential feature is freedom of transmission and freedom of use. However, when the actual number of Ubuntu users reaches a certain level, such as tens of millions or more, the problem occurs. In Ubuntu users all over the world, we can find several different types of users,

Today, free software (including its concept) has been introduced into China and is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. But is there a business model for free software? There are many sayings. What exactly?

As you know, the Ubuntu release is a free software package. In short, its essential feature is freedom of transmission and freedom of use. However, when the actual number of Ubuntu users reaches a certain level, such as tens of millions or more, the problem occurs. For Ubuntu users all over the world, we can find several different types of users in Ubuntu installation, operation and maintenance, and advanced deployment, there are actual needs for technical support and services. Assume that the user groups with such requirements only account for 1% of the total number of actual users. For example, there are hundreds of thousands of users, and business opportunities will emerge.

In fact, when Ubuntu was just born five years ago, talking about commercial technical support (or services) for Ubuntu users was almost just an empty talk and a good wish. At that time, some people said that the tail of Ubuntu rabbits could not grow because there was no business model. However, Mr. Mark Shuttleworth, the founder of Ubuntu, firmly believes that with the widespread spread of Ubuntu, such business opportunities will certainly emerge. There is a premise that the quality of Ubuntu must be continuously improved, and it is gradually becoming a kind of software product, which is favored by the majority of users. This is exactly how history develops.

After five years of continuous forging and carving, today's Ubuntu release version, such as the water of the Lotus, elegant and elegant Beauty, people love, especially the Ubuntu 9.10 version. So far, the example Company (Canonical) saw that the business opportunity had finally arrived, so in July 31 this year, the example company launched a Global-Oriented Commercial Service (Business Operation Model ), it is called "Ubuntu Desktop Support Service ". This type of support service is provided to customers via email or network phone. It is divided into three levels, starting at $55 a year. Is this service charge expensive? In fact, as long as you compare the technical support service fee with general commercial software, you will find that this pricing is very cheap. All service transactions are carried out on the network, and the transaction cost is extremely low. In September 3, the model company launched an advanced Service for special user needs, called "Premium Service Engineer" (PSE), which provides a dedicated Engineer (dedicated person) for special users) provides individual guidance services, which greatly improves the service quality. According to Reuters, the PSE service charges $5,000 a year, equivalent to the monthly salary of a full-time engineer.