A Global Voice for Open Source

OW2 and OSA will merge platforms and join forces to speak on research, technology, business and policy issues

Information Management Online, October 2, 2009

October 2, 2009 -- The OW2 Consortium and the Open Solutions Alliance plan to merge to constitute a global platform for supporting research, development, distribution, and adoption of open source software at all levels of the information systems stack. The two prominent open source organizations represent developers, vendors, consumers and communities throughout the world.

The combined organization will use the global reach, market penetration, and broad technical skills of its members to develop a diversified code base and portfolio of open source components, advocate for open source software, and promote collaboration and the open source model for development and innovation in enterprises, academia and government.

Cedric Thomas, OW2 CEO, believes the two organizations will accomplish more with a unified voice. “A combined entity will provide a single voice for open source worldwide and a unique global pool of open source resources,” Thomas said in a statement.

“Open source solutions meet business critical needs while offering flexibility and cost advantages to end users,” said Anthony Gold, OSA president. He states that the merger will allow the groups to drive that message home to IT professionals, CIOs and CEOs.

For more information, please visit OpenSolutionsAlliance.org.

Julie Langenkamp, editor-in-chief of Information Management (formerly DM Review), has a decade of experience in print and online media. She is responsible for coordinating editorial and production aspects of the magazine as well as maintaining relationships with authors, vendors, marketers, analysts and public relations teams for the magazine, associated Web site and digital outlets. She can be reached at julie.langenkamp@sourcemedia.com.