If so many companies dislike Microsoft products why do they buy them?
Microsoft has been circulating fear, uncertainty and doubt regarding open
source in the enterprise to keep developers from exploring more affordable
options. Many proprietary companies play on the fear of the unknown,
believing people will naturally go with what they know, instead of trying
out something new and innovative. For many companies, the intimation
factor, fueled by software giants searching for licensing fees, is the only
barrier standing between high-priced, proprietary software and
cost-efficient open source-based solutions. But vendors like NuSphere
Corporation, who build solutions using open source components, are
beginning to challenge this strategy to liberate IT developers from
proprietary fees, upgrades and dependence.

Take Mike Wheeler, president and CEO of Asset Research & Retention, who in
April, decided not to use Microsoft IIS to move his company's application
to the web because of the software's security issues. Wheeler admits that
he was gun shy at first, but once he overcame the idea of working with open
source-based products, he had no problem using NuSphere Pro Advantage's
open source-based tools to create Verify-Checks.com, an application
allowing the instant review a customer's check writing history at the point
of sale.

NuSphere offers an entire suite of development and deployment tools (an
IAP, Enhanced MySQL database, and PHPEd, an IDE) which can help small- to
mid-sized businesses move their products and services to the web in a more
cost-effective, timely manner than if using many proprietary
offerings. Quarterly updates, security tools and technical support also
supplement these products. In addition, the licensing fees for NuSphere Pro
Advantage are far below any of the available proprietary alternatives.

NuSphere's President, Lorne Cooper, and/or CTO, Britt Johnston, are
available for comment on how open source alternatives offer viable
solutions for web development companies or small businesses with IT
staffing groups of one or two developers, as well as to discuss NuSphere's
changed business model. I can also put you in touch with Mike Wheeler to
discuss his use of NuSphere Pro Advantage and how he overcame the
intimidation factor. On Monday, NuSphere will officially announce ARR's use
of Pro Advantage. I think this story could fit in either the Announcements
page or on the Development page. Your thoughts?

Nikki
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Nikki A. Shimshock
Schwartz Communications, Inc.
Prospect Place, 230 Third Avenue
Waltham, MA 02451
(P) 781-684-0770
(F) 781-684-6500