https://www.channelfutures.com/wp-content/themes/channelfutures_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2020 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
Channel Futures
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2020 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
    • Newsletter
  • REGISTER
  • MSPs
  • VARs / SIs
  • Digital Service Providers
  • Cloud Service Providers
  • CHANNEL PARTNERS ONLINE
 Channel Futures

Open Source


Alfresco Declares War On Microsoft SharePoint

  • Written by The VAR Guy 1
  • August 11, 2008
Sure, Microsoft SharePoint remains a lucrative opportunity for solutions providers. But even SharePoint -- one of Microsoft's fastest-growing products -- is under attack from open source. This time, the aggressor is Alfresco Software Inc. Here's the scoop.

Alfresco positions itself as:
"The Open Source SharePoint Alternative."

Sure, Microsoft SharePoint remains a lucrative opportunity for solutions providers. But even SharePoint — one of Microsoft’s fastest-growing products — is under attack from open source. This time, the aggressor is Alfresco Software Inc. Here’s the scoop.

Alfresco positions itself as:

“The Open Source SharePoint Alternative.”

The company kicked off that attack strategy in July, when Alfresco described plans to support the SharePoint Server 2007 protocols. The attack grew a bit more aggressive when LinuxWorld Expo pulled into San Francisco last week.

During the event, Alfresco had a small demo station within Canonical’s conference booth. From the relative safety of that booth, Alfresco representatives educated hundreds of attendees about the company’s strategy.

Instead of struggling to define where and how Alfresco fits into the content management market, Alfresco representatives kept repeating that same magic phrase:

“We’re the open source SharePoint alternative.”

Even The VAR Guy was repeating Alfresco’s pitch by the time he headed for his flight home. You know, if you say something often enough people start to believe it. Early Alfresco customers — from Activision to XMRadio — seem to be true believers.

Tags: Cloud Service Providers Digital Service Providers MSPs VARs/SIs Open Source

Related


  • cloud data
    Your Cloud Data Is Protected, But Is It Portable?
    Why flexibility and containerization are the new must-haves for cloud data.
  • Spinoff Company
    IBM Names CEO of New Managed Services Spinoff
    The former IBM CFO is well-known to those within NewCo.
  • JEDI lightsaber
    AWS Still Chasing JEDI, Blasts Trump Administration Again
    AWS still wants to get JEDI from Microsoft. And there’s a new alliance in town. Plus, an update from iXsystems.
  • CEO Andy Jassy during keynote at AWS reInvent 2020
    AWS Partners Flooded with New Capabilities, Opportunities at re:Invent
    Channel head Doug Yeum introduced services, competencies and more ways for the channel to team with the cloud provider.

11 comments

  1. Avatar Prometheus II August 12, 2008 @ 8:05 am
    Reply

    What I truly do not understand about alfresco is that they spend time at LinuxWorld, Java One and the like but don’t appear at the trade shows ( http://www.aiimroadshow.org.uk/delegates/ex_list_db.asp ) where they might find users and buyers.

  2. Avatar Spaulding Smails August 12, 2008 @ 9:09 am
    Reply

    There seems to be a great deal of fanfare about some war that open source is waging against Microsoft. I see it a bit more pragmatically; open source is fulfilling rhetoric that Microsoft has been bandying about for a while now but that they have continued to fail to deliver on; interoperability.

  3. Avatar Mr Root August 12, 2008 @ 9:39 am
    Reply

    Hi thevarguy,

    You have some market insight : Can you – or maybe some reader here – explain me what is it that drives people – at least CIOs and their staff – to Sharepoint?

    I just cannot imagine a functionality in Sharepoint – looking at the technical sheet of it – which is not long, long in some free software product. We have document management – with Apache WebDav check – , we have Wiki – with multiple free software wikis check -, we have discussion groups – with many, many free software forums software check -.
    For me Sharepoint is just another blown up copy of functionality which can be found since years in FOSS packets.
    Only, I can imagine the click-click interface of M$ of something shining as interesting to the M$ customers.

  4. Avatar The VAR Guy August 12, 2008 @ 11:54 am
    Reply

    Mr. Root: The FOSS crowd continually underestimates the power of MSFT. SharePoint is a well-branded product that VARs are aggressively backing. And now, it’s shifting to the SaaS market as well. Plus, Microsoft’s “closed” approach to software does include tight hooks between MSFT applications.

    Consider this: The VAR Guy just heard about a major US service provider that is dumping Novell NetWare, GroupWise and SuSE in favor of an integrated MSFT approach. It’s a $4 million project to start, with plenty more dollars flowing to MSFT. The CIO is sold on MSFT’s .Net architecture.

    The VAR Guy isn’t saying the US service provider is making the right move. But this is the reality, folks: MSFT remains a true force, despite FOSS’s advancements.

  5. Avatar The VAR Guy August 12, 2008 @ 11:56 am
    Reply

    Spaulding: Fantastic movie reference. The VAR Guy never slices…

  6. Avatar Mr Root August 12, 2008 @ 12:51 pm
    Reply

    The Var Guy:
    I accept your example. And I heard many such examples before.

    BUT you did not explain _WHY_ for example this US service provider is going to the M$ approach. You only told us that they will do it.

    I especially asked for the WHY.

    I am aiming for a discussion that gets to the point of _WHAT_ – we the FOSS community – can do to get to a point where we can directly compete with $harepoint. I pointed that in the Free Software repository the functions of Sharepoint are already existant. But for one or the other reason we cannot get to the point where we are accepted as a platform for business development/solution.

    Let the discussion begin. With the hope to get at the end a plan and specification for an Ubuntu based integrated groupware with document management functionality or some such. ;-))

  7. Avatar The VAR Guy August 12, 2008 @ 1:48 pm
    Reply

    Mr. Root: The VAR Guy isn’t suggesting that the US Service Provider CIO is making the “right” decision. But here’s the reasoning behind his decision…

    If you ran a Global 2000 company, would you bet on a hot, emerging platform (Alfresco) that didn’t really have an established channel of IT consultants, integrators, programmers and solutions providers standing behind it? Or would you select a “just good enough” MSFT solution that is backed by thousands of ISVs, integrators, OEMs?

    Frankly, it’s all about the partner ecosystem. FOSS has wonderful “communities” of developers, but many of those community members are nameless, faceless people working somewhere in the cloud. Those FOSS developers are talented folks, and The VAR Guy respects them. But FOSS needs to make the jump from “community” support to true channel-oriented solutions providers.

  8. Avatar isMundu August 12, 2008 @ 2:39 pm
    Reply

    I believe the key to Microsoft’s Success is in the consistency of their user interface. All their applications have a uniform feel that tends to flatten the learning curve and make switching from one to the other a walk in the park… Linux is the exact opposite. And dont be mistaken too, CIO’s and all the geeks hate having to explain “trivial” things to newbies

    You may have GIMP with a GTK feel, and KOffice with a Qt feel. Try explaining why one checkbox is circular and the other one triangular to the old bosse’s secretary and then you will understand.

    I believe, Linux’s strength, too much freedom, is what is bogging it down. There are way too many options as to render most people completely overwhelmed… it’s like going to the store without a shopping list…

    So… I am suggesting that we somehow curtail this freedom just to keep at par? Hell NOOO!!!

  9. Avatar Mr Root August 12, 2008 @ 3:26 pm
    Reply

    The Var Guy:
    Thank you for your elaboration on the reasons to get successful as a development house – using solution providers -.
    You forget one thing: In the FOSS space you cannot make the assumption that there is a biz with a development part in it. So in the FOSS space to say that you have to go to the “channel” it is in most cases not just possible. For example take KDE(I am speaking of Version 3.5.9 here): A big development with full integrated Office suite, and multi media apps and also with 3rd party contributed groupware – KDE with KOffice has a better integrated interface as all the MS operating systems with Office, just go look at the screenshots -.
    BUT to say to the KDE guys to build up a “channel” is just not possible.
    We HAVE to make solutions that speak to the business possible from the development point of view of FOSS projects.
    Showing and teaching how to build up various solutions for the business so that a small consultant business can build up from that. And similar ways.

    isMundu:
    Your example is just wrong.
    If you want an integrated and consistent look and feel then you have to give the example of KDE3.5.9 and KOffice and Krita – the Gimp-like KDE program -. Then you can show that the FOSS guys can build even better integrated “solutions” then the commercial world. It gets even better: In some months – maybe up to 12 – we will get with the KOffice 4 not only the integrated things of KDE but these will be even platform neutral because they will work – in some cases even work today – on Windows XP (maybe also Vista), too.
    So in the end: There is nothing bogging something down.
    It is ONLY, and only the image of FOSS and the not-connected to the real world hackers in the basements that is bogging the usage of FOSS in the business down.
    Full stop.

  10. Avatar matthews August 12, 2008 @ 4:57 pm
    Reply

    http://www.koffice.org/

    Not to bury your good points with mundane details ismundu but koffice was started latter than kde and is on version 2. That being said I have been continually impressed with the progress the kde team makes. I think by adopting many interchangeable pieces of code they really have begun to get a snowball effect.

    As for this article I think it’s too short with not enough detail. I had to go look up what alfresco does before I can even begin to care about this article. I think a brief description of what alfresco does somewhere in the article would have been nice.

  11. Avatar donkey August 13, 2008 @ 12:16 am
    Reply

    ismundu: Sorry – *no-one* can claim that MS has the high ground in interface consistency. Check out any recent Word and Excel version and try to find where the config options are, and how they are laid out.

    Consistency eh? Pffffft.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your Channel Futures account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Dell Technologies Expands PowerProtect Portfolio, Embraces Data Protection Priorities
  • Wipro, Navisite, 2nd Watch Bolster Cloud Service Portfolios
  • IBM Cloud for Telecommunications to Rely on Integrators Right Away
  • WANdisco Partners Get First Formalized Partner Program

Galleries

View all

New, Changing Partner Programs: AWS, Tech Data, Avaya, Verizon

January 11, 2021

Industry Perspectives

View all

The Right Data Migration Tool Helps Schools Move to Cloud During COVID Crisis

January 19, 2021

Cloud-Based CRM: What SMBs Need to Know about Backup and Recovery

January 19, 2021

Cybersecurity: What to Expect in 2021

January 19, 2021

Webinars

View all

Blueprint for a Scalable MSSP Practice in 2021

January 21, 2021

Who’s Behind the Mask? Hacker Personas Explained

January 26, 2021

Your Network Perimeter Has Changed

February 18, 2021

White Papers

View all

Why Subscription Business Model

January 15, 2021

The Ultimate MSP Guide to Sales Efficiency

January 14, 2021

Eight Reasons Why MSPs Need IT Industry-Specific Sales Tools

January 14, 2021

Upcoming Events

View all

Channel Partners Virtual

March 2, 2021 - March 4, 2021

Channel Partners Conference & Expo

November 1, 2021 - November 4, 2021

Videos and Fastchats

View all

FASTCHAT: How SOAR Eliminates Security Challenges and Elevates Service Provider Revenues

January 6, 2021

Happy Holidays from Channel Partners & Channel Futures!

December 21, 2020

FASTCHAT: How Old, Unpatched Technologies Are Creating New Security Threats for MSPs and Their Customers

December 3, 2020

Twitter

ChannelFutures

Our latest #Cybersecurity Roundup features @BitSight and @kovrrIns, @Vectra_AI and @AppOmniSecurity,… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@solarwinds hackers target @Malwarebytes, impacting internal emails. #cybersecurity dlvr.it/RqzkZp https://t.co/aWqLjCCW9y

January 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@citrix $2.25 deal to acquire @wrike expands @CitrixPartners network into collaborative work management.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@Carbonite Migrate uses real-time replication to move workloads to #cloud with minimal risk and near-zero downtime… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

Backup and recovery is essential for #cloud-based CRMs @ConnectWise #SaaS #dataprotection #cloudbackup #databackup… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 19, 2021
ChannelFutures

You an #MSSP looking to avoid a #SolarWinds-type breach? @Asigra, @Barracuda, @CynetSystems give advice. Don’t blam… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 19, 2021
ChannelFutures

What to expect in 2021 @Webroot #cybersecurity #MSP #remoteworkforce #remoteworking #Carbonite… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 19, 2021
ChannelFutures

From #itautomation to #workfromhome, a look at 2021 trends from @BitTitan. dlvr.it/RqwFZg https://t.co/EkCeJVNAPo

January 19, 2021

MSSP Insider

Newsletters and Updates

Sign up for The Channel Report, Channel Futures Update, MSP 501 Newsletter and more.

Live Channel Events

Get the latest information on the next industry-leading Channel Partners event.

Channel Partners Online

Want more? Find more channel news and analysis on our sister site, Channel Partners.

Media Kit And Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • Channel Partners Online
  • Channel Partners Events
  • MSP 501
  • MSSP Insider
  • IoT World Today
  • Webhostingtalk

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter

FOLLOW Channel Futures ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X