The Open Software Foundation has announced plans for what it calls the Open Software Mall, a repository based on the World-Wide Web for free software distribution. OSF hopes the mall will help distribute innovative open systems technology to users.
OSF's Ira Goldstein, chief scientist and executive vice president, said OSF believes that the Web can provide convenient, ubiquitous, desktop access to open systems technology. "By employing the latest World-Wide Web technology, software, documentation, specifications, test suites, and other relevant information can be only a few clicks away for any user or organization," Goldstein said. "It is now possible for open systems software to be available for any standards-compliant platform in a simple and economic manner."
The first version of the software mall is to be operational by the end of September. Along with its mall announcement, OSF said three offerings of advanced technology will be available when the mall opens:
At its inception, the Open Software Mall will include "plazas" or areas for advanced technology, pre-structured technology, OSF professional services, and the OSF Research Institute. The advanced technology will be made available freely, on a non-commercial use basis. A standard mall license will allow for redistribution of the software as long as it continues to be used for non-commercial purposes and copyright notices as preserved.