IT BIZVISION's objective is to supply quality products and services to its clients and in accordance with their particular needs. The use of open source or free software, is often an excellent cost effective solution for many projects.

However every project and situation is different. A cost benefit and business case analysis is necessary in order to determine the best solution for your project in regards to:

• Open source or free software"
• Commercial or proprietor applications
• Custom application development

What is open source or free software? r

``Free software'' is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of ``free'' as in ``liberty''. Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:

Advantages

• The freedom to run the program, for any purpose
• The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs. Access to the source code is a precondition for this
• The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbour
• The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits

Somme definitions

• Open Source : license authorizing access to the source code, without necessarily imposing rights for copying or redistribution. Free software offers more rights to the users.
• Freeware : Software that is available free of charge. Does not guarantee access to the source code, copying or redistribution. Do not confuse with free software.
• Free Software : Under the free software licensing model, it is your right to use the software, modify it, and redistribute it in any way you like. It's even okay for you to charge for your distribution. However, these broad rights are conditioned upon your commitment to provide similar access to your modifications and to never narrow the licensing rights as a condition of distribution.
• Shared Source : A licensing agreement from Microsoft for selected customers that allows them to look at certain parts of Microsoft source code. The companies are encouraged to make suggestions, but unlike open source software, in most cases, they are prohibited from making the changes themselves.
• Proprietary or Free software: Free is not contradictory to commercial, but is contradictory to proprietary. A Free Software can be sold like a proprietary software. Only the licensing terms differ.
  Source: "Free Software Foundation Inc."