[Asterisk-Users] Sangoma VS. Digium

[steve szmidt]

On Thursday 31 March 2005 02:43, Brian Capouch wrote:
> Isamar Maia wrote:
> > Technically speaking not. But Sangoma's support seems to be pretty much
> > better.
>
> My understanding is that to an extent when we buy Sangoma we're putting
> the dagger to Digium.  They're glad to use Asterisk as a selling point
> for their hardware, but unwilling to donate anything back to the
> Asterisk community.

It really does become an interesting debate. Do you lower your own ability to 
survive by using a lower quality product/service, to help ensure that the 
main product continues. Or do you help the main product survive by putting 
yourself at risk?

For better or worse we are all also the effect of Digium's policies and 
decisions. Not to say that they have not done an outstanding job getting 
Asterisk to what it is. 

Likewise Digium is at the effect of what the community does.

In the long run one needs to find a balance where everyone can win. Usually 
that is done by plain market influence. If they don't buy it, you won't be 
able to make it for very long.

Indeed we all would be poorer if Digium could not continue the work. But so 
too, do they need to ensure that they are staying close to community needs, 
while making sure they DO make the right decisions.

I think it's fair to say that Digium is more right than wrong, as their course 
have taken them this far. One does however need to reevaluate positions and 
directions every now and then, and be willing to change course should it so 
require.

> I'll be glad to stand corrected, but if that assertion is in fact true,
> we should be careful to do things that actually damage Digium's ability
> to leverage their development of Asterisk with their hardware sales.

My view of Asterisk has made me put my money where my mouth is by "betting the 
farm" on Asterisk. I have put everything I have into a position of making a 
living with Asterisk, so I too depend on it to survive.

But in the end I have to ensure that my decisions keep food on our table. 
Whether I choose Sangoma or Digium cards will be based on what I perceive to 
be the most long term survival thing to do. Of course, if I end up making a 
good business out of Sangoma and Asterisk, nothing will stop me from paying 
license fee's to Digium, which will be more profitable than selling me a card 
anyway.

So I see that Digium should be making enough money from all of us, each 
contributing in a different way. In fact at this point Asterisk is poised to 
become a major influence in the market as people world wide is waking up to 
it's potential.

-- 

Steve Szmidt

"They that would give up essential liberty for temporary safety 
deserve neither liberty nor safety."
                                Benjamin Franklin