[OSGeo-Conf] Sponsorhip

[Jason Birch]

Hi Tim,

I think you've covered most of the main points, and the value
proposition for FOSS4G needs definition, so it's a great time to be
discussing it.

Here's one for the big players like Google and Microsoft:  

Encourage integration with your software/services among open source
developers.  When open source projects support your application, you
gain competitive advantages in lowered barriers to adoption and a
resultant increase in high-quality georeferenced information published
by third parties.

And a business reason to encourage open source development:

Encouraging open source geospatial development increases the amount of
non-differentiating software that is available to you.  This allows you
to stop reinventing the wheel, and shift your resources into areas that
are your organisation's core competencies.

And I think you covered this one:

FOSS4G has a strong history of spawning innovative projects. Having a
presence at this conference will allow you to take advantage of these
innovations within your own development processes.

Jason
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Bowden
Subject: Re: [OSGeo-Conf] Sponsorhip

Ouch!  These are rough notes that were far from ready to send.  Not sure
how that happened!  Still, trying to salvage the situation, I'm trying
to look at sponsorship from two angles.  What value we bring to the
table (ie, who are we and who do we represent), and who would like to
build relationships with us and why.  I'm sure this has all been looked
at by those involved, but what the heck, that's not something to stop me
putting my own two cents worth in.

Make what you will of it!