[ale] OT -- Questions about how to get funds for open source

[Chris Fowler]

On Mon, 2011-01-17 at 16:09 -0500, Chuck Payne wrote:

> >>
> >> I been asking round how people get funds for open source project. This
> >> year I have a lot of traveling, but the group can't pay the traveling,
> >> they have told me at most 60 to 80%, I wouldn't mind, but I don't have
> >> those kind of funds. I been asking how do open source fund they
> >> projects.

I'm having a hard time understanding as to why you are working for a
company that is asking you to travel but can not reimburse you for your
expenses.  Seems like the easy solution is not to travel.  Maybe this is
a startup that is low on funds and to get your product noticed you must
make appearances.  

Many of these OSS companies make money on the service.  Sugar is a fine
example.  Their free product is okay and most people can get by with it.
The paid product is better.  Their paid product includes modules,
customizations, and data storage where you are on your own with the free
one.  People like me will stick with the free because I am my own Linux
support.  Companies that have all Winders techs will pay.


When you say VOIP I have to wonder if you may be talking about Digium.
There are plenty other VOIP companies around this area.