As enterprise software reaches maturation phase, Open source infrastructure and applications have the opportunity to fundamentally change the software industry as we know it today.
It is the transition from :
a) proprietary to open systems
b) passive consumer to active collaborator
c) software provider to a service provider
... that changes the game.
Will any of the current leaders like Microsoft, SAP, Oracle etc. enable this transition to happen or will new leaders emerge who will help define the new software industry by 2010 ?
Beginnings of this radical shift is already take shape at the infrastructure level with productions like Linux, Apache, JBoss, MySQL etc. Applications such as Compiere(ERP), SugarCRM(CRM) and many others are blazing a new trail of providing low upfront cost apps that provide business value immediately.
New business models are being created, development to delivery of software is being redefined, services excellence is becoming a key differentiator and customers are paying for realized business value not just visions and road-maps
It is a great time to be starting a new software business to exploit this new wave and build a next-generation leader.