Commercial Services

The Open Source Geospatial Foundation is a non profit organization and does not provide commercial services.

Business Ready Software

Ready-to-use softare is somtimes called COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) software. There are several packages within OSGeo and the Free and Open Source community at large that can be used right off the shelf (but does not ship in shrink-wrap packages). Others like libraries or SOA infrastructure components need to be installed and configured individually, sometimes in large and highly complex or productive environments. Some such structures need to be maintained on a daily basis, for example if security requirements (Confidentiality, Availability, Integrity) are exceptionally high. Free and Open Source Geospatial software is used in every context and is just as diverse as are the needs and corresponding services.

Graduated OSGeo Software has gone through the Incubation Process and thus proven to follow the guidelines that have been set up to ensure several soft factors that a software project cannot always provide out of itself. These include legally clean code and use of external libraries, a functional community and a truely open governance and decision structure. Additionally several formal requirements are set up like the use of a code repository, bug tracking environment and support mechanism, most often through mailing lists.

Commercial use of OSGeo Software

These are excellent preconditions to use the software in Business contexts. To make most effective use of any software it can be helpful to hire commercial service providers who can deliver solutions, support and service in time and through regular contracts. In larger environments and complex infrastructures it is normal to hire specialists to look after the network infrastructure, perform database tuning and customize software. This applies to both proprietary and Free and Open Source Software.

OSGeo does not provide these services herself but has set up a Service Provider Directory to make this information available to businesses and organizations in need of professional services and with a budget to afford them.