DailyTech - Microsoft Helps Fund Apache With Cash Donation

Submit News

Software Microsoft Helps Fund Apache With Cash Donation
Michael Barkoviak - July 28, 2008 7:17 AM

E-mail

del.icio.us

23 comment(s) - last by Pirks.. on Jul 29 at 7:06 PM

Microsoft feels generous, offers $100K to an open source initiative

Microsoft ended last week by offering $100,000 in support for the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) during the final day of the Open Source Convention (OSCON) in Portland, Oregon.

"We thank Microsoft for their generous sponsorship that goes towards supporting The Apache Software Foundation and the over 60 top level projects in use and development within the ASF," ASF Chairman Jim Jagielski said. "Microsoft's sponsorship makes it clear that Microsoft 'gets it' regarding the ASF," he added in the press statement.

The ASF is a non-profit group comprised of developers who create open source technologies based on Axis Web and Apache Web server.

The company will continue to support its IIS Web server platform, but said the contribution to Apache is a show of appreciation for the Apache Foundation's work. Apache officials have said the donation is a strong move to help bring interoperability between Apache and Microsoft one step closer to reality.

Microsoft provided more than financial support, however, as it also offered to contribute several technologies from the Microsoft Communications Protocol Program into the Open Specifications Promise (OSP). There will also be several patch contributions to ADOdb, the data access layer that is designed so PHP applications are able to operate with other databases. Microsoft said its patch contributions now allow ADOdb to communicate directly with the SQL Server database.

A higher level of pressure from business competitors and government regulators in the United States and Europe have forced Microsoft to modify the way it does business -- donations and contributions to the open source community is its latest method in helping out.

Comments

Threshold

Username
Password
remember me

This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled

Why?

By ninus3d on 7/28/2008 8:17:59 AM , Rating: 2

I dont understand, arent Apache and IIS in direct competition? Why are Microsoft doing this? Solely for getting compatibility with Apache? Who would win the most on that though?

Not sure about this statistics as i was told about this at a Microsoft held 2008 product launch presentation but they claimed as much as 36,6% of all webpages in the world was hosted using IIS...

RE: Why?

By corduroygt on 7/28/2008 8:22:33 AM , Rating: 4

The same reason tobacco companies sponsor anti-smoking ads and programs to help quit smoking.

Parent

RE: Why?

By ninus3d on 7/28/2008 8:34:46 AM , Rating: 2

A very evil form of PR?

Parent

RE: Why?

By FITCamaro on 7/28/2008 9:39:49 AM , Rating: 3

Because they're required to pay for them as a result of lawsuits.

Personally, as someone who hates smoking because of the smell, I hate the anti-smoking ads. They're retarded.

Parent

RE: Why?

By omnicronx on 7/28/2008 10:37:44 AM , Rating: 2

Anti smoking adds just make me want to have a smoke. Out of sight, out of mind... It's not like smokers don't see the picture of cut open lungs or 'smoking kills babies' on every pack they buy.

Parent

RE: Why?

By xti on 7/28/2008 11:50:22 AM , Rating: 2

<chrisrock>it kills people who dont even smoke!</chrisrock>

now i need a marlboro...

Parent

RE: Why?

By Rodney McNaggerton on 7/28/2008 12:00:11 PM , Rating: 5

They are required to by crooks?(lawmakers)

Parent

RE: Why?

By Jack Ripoff on 7/28/2008 8:41:05 AM , Rating: 3

The short answer is: as long as it's running under their platform (Windows), it's OK for them. Apache is usually run under Unix/Linux, so I suppose they want to change that.

The long answer may be found here: http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.o...

Parent

RE: Why?

By masher2

(blog) on 7/28/2008 10:13:13 AM , Rating: 2

Looks like an excellent plan, and the world would be much better off if every company followed it.

I particularly liked Microsoft's explicit statement, "Don't sue -- compete!".

Parent

RE: Why?

By omnicronx on 7/28/2008 10:42:42 AM , Rating: 1

quote:
Looks like an excellent plan, and the world would be much better off if every company followed it.

Oh for sure, who on earth would want to run a free OS with a free web server with a free DBMS. The idea just baffles my mind =P.

and yes that was me being sarcastic..

Parent

RE: Why?

By masher2

(blog) on 7/28/2008 11:05:23 AM , Rating: 3

Your attack is off target. I wasn't making a case as to the relative merits of free software vs. paid, but rather Microsoft's use of evangelism as a competitive tool. The care and attention they show ISVs (independent software vendors) revolutionized the software industry, and is the primary reason Windows is where it is today. IBM (OS/2) and major Unix vendors treated ISVs as just another revenue stream, to be squeezed for every nickel, whereas MS gave them cartloads of free tools, APIs, white papers, support, and even on occassion wrote their code for them.

Parent

RE: Why?

By omnicronx on 7/28/2008 11:42:27 AM , Rating: 1

quote:
The care and attention they show ISVs (independent software vendors) revolutionized the software industry, and is the primary reason Windows is where it is today

After I read your post again, I figured that's what you meant. That's what I get for not having a coffee in the morning... Sorry for the attack, next time I will make sure that it is warranted.. ;)

As for the original topic, I bet this business strategy keeps Microsoft out of the anti-trust trouble too.

Parent

RE: Why?

By mikefarinha on 7/28/2008 12:59:21 PM , Rating: 3

quote:
who on earth would want to run a free OS with a free web server with a free DBMS.

Easy, people who like to tinker and corporations that like to have lots of in-house support.

Parent

RE: Why?

By joemoedee on 7/28/2008 10:32:37 AM , Rating: 3

"Apache officials have said the donation is a strong move to help bring interoperability between Apache and Microsoft one step closer to reality."

That's why.

It's MS's way of taking on LAMP. All the while, looking like the good guy.

MS has contributed to it's "enemies" in the past. If it wasn't for MS buying $150 million dollars in Apple stock back in the 90's, there's a strong chance Apple would have gone away.

Of course, MS got IE to be the defacto browser, and other benefits as well....

Parent

RE: Why?

By xti on 7/28/2008 11:53:15 AM , Rating: 5

they always say, there is no such thing as a selfless act, but MS gets it 10x as bad.

I think MS could cure cancer and someone would figure out something wrong about it...

Parent

RE: Why?

By joemoedee on 7/28/2008 1:50:48 PM , Rating: 4

quote:
they always say, there is no such thing as a selfless act, but MS gets it 10x as bad.

I think MS could cure cancer and someone would figure out something wrong about it...

I can see it now.

Headline: MS Cures Cancer

Sony PS3 Fanboy: Too bad the cure will cause 33% of the patients to have the red ring of herpes.

Parent

RE: Why?

By PWNettle on 7/28/2008 4:23:29 PM , Rating: 2

I like MS (use lots of their products, .net dev, etc) but there's little doubt that if MS *did* cure cancer they'd figure out a way to make you buy the cure in installments, or versions, where you had to pay more for the same thing every few years. "Hey, this year we've totally redesigned the cure to do the same thing it did before and we're charging double the previous cost for it!" Or they'd just license the cure to you and the cure would only remain effective as long as you paid your yearly fees.

Parent

RE: Why?

By joemoedee on 7/28/2008 5:20:27 PM , Rating: 2

Reminded me of Chris Rock...

"They ain't curing it,
'cause there ain't no money in the cure.

The money's in the medicine.
That's how you get paid, on the comeback.

That's how a drug dealer makes his money,
on the comeback."

Parent