May 18, 2006

Open Source Platforms Enable European Innovators to Target Big Opportunities

Open source and open standards have unleashed a flood of software innovation in Europe. (Hey, let's not forget where Linux came from). So it was no surprise that the Innovate!Europe 2006 event in Zaragoza, Spain, heard from some open source software entrepreneurs with big plans.

Talking in his home town, Ignacio Uson introduced his Warp Networks company and its EBox platform. Ebox is a free open source network administration server for small business. Typical of the big thinking of Europe's young entrepreneurs, Ignacio sees an international potential market 25mn companies for the platform. His marketing strategy is to reach them through system integrators and ISVs. The EBox business model is to sell an annual certification and support package to these resellers. The first marketing goal is 'to get popular fast' by achieving 2500 downloads in the five months after EBox 1.0 launches in Q3.

Otodio has developed a mark-up standard for audio. The company sees a big market opportunity in enabling print publishers to reach mobile phone users via text-to-speech applications. The Otodio system will soon be compatible with all smartphone operating systems, Symbian, Windows Mobile 5.0 and Blackberry. Simon Gall of Otodio says its system is "a big step on from podcasting."

Kewego already has over 1000 corporate clients, 70 TV channels and millions of viewers using its system that brings TV to net and cellphone screens. Anyone can use Kewego to create and watch personalized TV programs. Professional versions of the technology target the broadcasting and corporate sectors.

Posted by Philip Gallagher at May 18, 2006 10:53 AM