Ubuntu Global Jam: Will Partners Pitch In?

Written by The VAR Guy 1
February 2, 2010

Canonical and the Ubuntu community are busy polishing Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx), a major upgrade set to debut in April 2010. But before the new Linux distribution arrives, the Ubuntu community will host an Ubuntu Global Jam from March 26 to March 28. The big question: Will customers and partners also join in the Jam? Should they? Here are some thoughts.

Ubuntu Global Jam 2010 Canonical and the Ubuntu community are busy polishing Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx), a major upgrade set to debut in April 2010. But before the new Linux distribution arrives, the Ubuntu community will host an Ubuntu Global Jam from March 26 to March 28. The big question: Will customers and partners also join in the Jam? Should they? Here are some thoughts.

For those on the outside looking in, the Ubuntu Global Jam organizes contributors and fans of the operating system to help find and kill Ubuntu 10.04 software bugs; test the new operating system release; upgrade to Lucid Lynx and report on the experience; write documentation; translate and localize Ubuntu for key geographies; and enhance the Ubuntu packaging.

No doubt, these types of open source “Jams” are catching on with traditional closed source software companies. Microsoft, for one, tried to organize Windows 7 launch parties among consumers — though some skeptics considered it a tongue-in-cheek effort on Microsoft’s part.

Back in Ubuntu land, The VAR Guy wonders: Will customers and channel partners assist with the Ubuntu Global Jam? Hmmm… for the most part, the Jam involves so-called Ubuntu LoCo (Local Community) efforts. But our resident blogger thinks Canonical and the Ubuntu community should extend some Global Jam invites to business customers and channel partners — especially since Canonical needs to compete more aggressively against entrenched rivals Red Hat and Novell.

In recent months, Canonical has successfully recruited more ISVs (independent software vendors) over to Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Server Edition. For the Ubuntu 10.04 launch to really succeed, Canonical needs to connect the dots between corporate customers, channel partners and software developers. Promoting the Ubuntu Global Jam to established and aspiring Ubuntu partners would be one such step in the right direction.