[SC.LUG] [Fwd: [lugmaster] FW: Linux Solution Providers]

[Richard Smedley]

For all those supplying GNU/Linux-based solutions:


----- Forwarded message from Keith Edmunds <keith at midnighthax.com> -----

Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2004 16:51:55 +0000
From: Keith Edmunds <keith at midnighthax.com>
Subject: [Gllugadmin] Linux Solution Providers
To: keith at midnighthax.com

Hi

I wanted to get this message out to the various LUGs, including the ones
I'm not a member of. If you feel it appropriate, I'd be grateful if you
could post it on your LUG mailing list.

Thanks
Keith Edmunds
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This is for those who are running, or are thinking of running, a
business providing Linux-based solutions to other companies. That's the
kind of business I run, and it's long struck me that there are many
companies, mostly small, doing what I'm doing, and that there are
advantages in forming a community of such companies. To that end I have
put together a "Linux Solution Providers" mailing list (details below).

These are some of the advantages I see in this mailing list:

o credibility (1): our competitors are often Microsoft Solution
Providers; we can counter that we are Linux Solution Providers

o credibility (2): no longer are you a one/two/three man company, but a
company affiliated to a network of XXX Linux Solution Providers

o mutual help: maybe you land a project which is larger than you feel
comfortable working on alone, and you want to find a partner to join you
for that project. Maybe you are a one-man band going on holiday, and again
want to find a partner to cover your customers while you're away. Maybe
you're lucky enough to be swamped with work, and just need someone to help
you out.

o marketing: how about a simple website which informs small businesses of
the advantages of Linux, and allows them to type in their postcode and
find the there nearest Linux Solution Providers?

There's lots more potential as well, which can be discussed. At the moment
this is a new mailing list: we're starting from scratch. My request to you
is to join it, and participate to see if we can form a community of Linux
Solution Providers. Linux has some tremendous
advantages, particularly as a server platform for smaller businesses, but
we are competing with Microsoft in many cases. Nothing wrong with that, of
course, but we can either fight every battle as individuals, or we can
present a unified, co-ordinated effort. Worth a shot?

To sign up, visit
http://www.linuxsolutionproviders.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/lsp-discussion

Best regards,
Keith Edmunds

----- End forwarded message -----