AnalystGartner says the
majority ofsoftware-as-a-service(SaaS) suppliers are using open-source software to
deliver their products.
The analyst says that by 2010, 90 per cent of SaaS providers
will have some open-source component in their technology
infrastructure stacks to reduce their expenses.
This may include open-source operating systems, application
servers, databases or other elements, says Gartner.
"Users, however, should not expect cost savings to be passed on
to them in the form of lower prices. Vendors may choose to improve
profitability or increase R&D efforts with their savings," said
Robert DeSisto, a Gartner analyst.
DeSisto also warned that customers should "take an active role
in governing the use of any open-source SaaS offering, specifically
to ensure that the company is properly indemnified from any
downstream patent infringement actions from the open-source
elements that the SaaS providers are using".
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