Dr. Dobb's | IBM Offers Free Sales Help For Open Source Developers

IBM Offers Free Sales Help For Open Source Developers

If you are building applications based on DB2 Express-C or WAS CE, Big Blue wants to talk to you.

February 07, 2007
URL:http://www.drdobbs.com/open-source/ibm-offers-free-sales-help-for-open-sour/197004216

In an effort to bolster use of its open source middleware and license-free database software, IBM on Wednesday said it will provide free sales and marketing support to developers who create products for those offerings.

Under the program, developers who create applications designed to run atop IBM's WebSphere Application Server Community Edition or its DB2 Express-C database can sign up to receive free telemarketing time and discounted advertising rates underwritten by IBM.

IBM is apparently hopeful that developers and end users of its open source and free products will ultimately upgrade to the paid, commercial versions of WebSphere and DB2, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars depending on volume requirements.

Program participants are also eligible for free access to IBM facilities to test their software and work alongside IBM experts. IBM says it will also help independent software developers close deals for products that run on DB2 Express-C and WebSphere Community Edition. Both are available for download free of charge.

WebSphere Community Edition competes primarily with Red Hat's JBoss open source application server. DB2 Express-C is not open source but it is available for use free of charge and competes with open source databases such as MySQL.