[K12OSN] Banding Together to Create Market Forces

[R. Scott Belford]

As this list grows and as FOSS installations reach more and more 
academic markets, we will be FOOLS not band together to create market 
forces.  We just read Jeremy tell Paul "we just need a few of you guys 
to band together and nudge us into it."  Rhetorically speaking, how many 
of you need this program and have either written or now plan to write 
Jeremy?  He just made it clear; your *market* feedback counts.

Guess what the Pearson sales team told me about running NovaNet on 
Linux? "I am sure that if we heard from enough school districts asking 
for it, we'd make it happen.  We'd have to."  Since he has only heard 
from me, he is happy to see HOSEF try to make it work with CrossOver Office.

There are really nice, well-meaning, but overwhelmed sales teams all 
over the education marketplace.  The need more money for their 
commissions.  Now.  When you are the first to call, explain the 
potential size of your sale,  and emphasize your need for their product 
to run on Linux, you get attention.  When you are the 10th, you are part 
of trend.  When you are the 20th, you may have just cemented change.

--scott









-- 
R. Scott Belford
Founder/Executive Director
The Hawai`i Open Source Education Foundation
PO Box 392
Kailua, HI 96734
808.689.6518 phone/fax
scott at hosef.org