It’s not just about the money. Open source usage will spread well beyond the Linux operating system, the Apache Web server, and the Firefox browser, and come to include a wide variety of tools and applications.
The lure of lower costs won’t be all that drives the move: Smaller firms in particular see open source as a strategic opportunity, a springboard for innovation, and a chance to declare independence from proprietary vendors—without sacrificing quality. It’s not just a change in technology; it’s a change in attitude.