SourceForge the world’s largest web site for open source development and distribution, today launched an online marketplace for technology professionals to buy and sell service and support for open source software.
SourceForge.net Marketplace launches with more than 600 service listings. Some major projects offering service and support include: OpenBravo, JasperSoft, Zenoss, Compiere, Firebird, Nagios and Spring Framework. The platform, which is tightly integrated into the SourceForge.net web site, has been heavily tested in closed and open beta cycles since May of this year.
“The demand for support around open source software continues to grow,” said Mike Rudolph, vice president and general manager of SourceForge.net. “We’re extending what is already the world’s most open and transparent open source hub to allow technology professionals to buy packaged support directly from the creators of the software.”
Marketplace gives open source projects and service providers a seamless process for selling services to the site’s global market of IT buyers. Sellers are free to set their own pricing, support levels, and service types. The Marketplace’s reputation system allows buyers and sellers to rate each other after each sale. There is no fee for listing services on SourceForge.net Marketplace.
"For integrated management services, it's clear that our customers want a consolidated place to buy both software and services,” said Bill Karpovich, CEO & Co-Founder of Zenoss. “Having them seamlessly connected is a real value add. SourceForge's Marketplace is a great addition to their work with open source projects, because you can get the support and services you need as soon as you find the open source software you want. Marketplace is a great addition to the SourceForge site, and we're very excited to be a part of it."
Interested buyers can search services by project, or browse general categories of services, Payment is specified by the seller, and may include PayPal, check, or credit card.
Similar to how open source development is geographically dispersed, Marketplace opens up economic opportunity for both established and emerging open source projects by providing access to a global market.
“We’re in a unique position to bring open source software and services together in a place people already trust, and with a model that is highly scaleable” said Rudolph. Our goal, as it has been from the start, is to help drive the adoption of open source software and enable success throughout the open source community.”
http://www.sourceforge.com