Unlike more general open-source consulting firms, MozSource and MozDev Group represent a growing number of cottage services springing up around specific, open-source projects such as Mozilla, Linux, Apache and MySQL.
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But the expected proliferation of partners means that, sooner or later, open-source foundations will have to learn how to support their channels. Zach Urlocker, vice president of marketing for MySQL, said channels are springing up to serve different types of open-source organizations. These include partners that focus on traditional open-source foundations such as Apache and the Open Source Development Labs, which guards over Linux. And there will be solution providers focused on second-generation, for-profit, open-source companies like MySQL and JBoss.
As with many commercial vendors, open-source projects such as MySQL and JBoss will continue mixed direct and indirect model sales and services model. But they also recognize that they will have to partner with independent service firms--viewing these emerging cottage industries as a services ecosystem under construction. MySQL, for instance, launched its first channel program in April.
(BTW, what's the deal with the term "the channel." (1.) what's the etymology of "channel" in this sense, and, (2.) how come there's only one, why isn't it "the channels"?)
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