CRM goes open

Enterprises on the lookout for an alternative to proprietary CRM applications can take a step to open source and get commercial support from local service providers, reports LinuxWorld.

Sydney-based Insightful Solutions expanded its support for the open source SugarCRM with its Enterprise Edition.

This follows an announcement earlier this year by another open source consultancy, Custom Technology, of distribution agreement with SugarCRM to support the software locally.

Built on the LAMP - Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP - environment, SugarCRM claims to have all the features of an enterprise CRM, without the high licence fees.

Sun Microsystems stepped into the fractious arena of digital copyright protection this week with plans for an open source, royalty-free digital rights management (DRM) standard, reports The Register.

The Open Media Commons initiative aims to address concerns that a growing number of incompatible download schemes might frustrate consumers and hold back growth in the download market.

Sun is releasing its code from its Project Dream (DRM/everywhere available) programme under the open source Common Development and Distribution Licence (CDDL).

It is inviting other firms to join the initiative that involves the devlopment of a device independent DRM standard - called DRM Opera - and user-based licensing.

Analysts said Sun needs to get content owners, software developers and device makers on board for the project to succeed.

Chilean software development firm Linux Centre and its Mexican subsidiary Tallard Telecom plan to open five Linux showcase operation centres in the region, one on Santiago, one in Venezuela and three in Mexico, TechNewsWorld reports.

In each centre, the company plans to install IT systems running entirely on a Linux operating system, where users and distribution channel partners will be able to see the benefits of this system.

"We will implement servers and work stations with Red Hat software, Novell applications such as network management and e-mail, clusters with Oracle`s RAC technology, CRM provided by Humano2, Avira anti-virus and others," said Carlos Munoz, GM of Linux Centre Latin America.

Each centre will also have a special room where channel partners will be able to develop seminars to strengthen client knowledge about the technologies implemented in the centre.