Open Source

Open Source
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opensource

This article from Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia, looks at the basic concepts of open source technologies. It gives a definition of the term open source, the history of its origins, and how it has come into modern use. The article also discusses how open source can be used in different markets, such as agriculture, medicine, technology, government, media, and yoga.

Since Wikipedia is an open source source, it is updated and republished whenever verifiable, data is entered into the specific subject matter. As of today, the article was last modified on February 27, 2006. This article is directly related to the topic of our white paper since it is imperative that we identify open source as a major underlying component of whaBAM!. Our audience needs to know what open source is and how it is applied in society. Wikipedia does an excellent job of breaking down open source and giving sufficient examples so that someone who has no experience with it can easily understand the concept of open source. This article also refers to other sources both outside and inside Wikipedia that are relevant to open source.

OpenCola
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenCola

This short article is also from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It describes OpenCola, a brand of cola that is unlike any other brand in the market. It explains that OpenCola is a simple example of open source technology and incorporates the same principles as open source software, such as the ability to modify and redistribute the product as long as the same license agreement is followed.

The last time verifiable, non-infringing data was entered into this article was on February 19, 2006. This article is directly related to the section on open source solutions in our white paper. OpenCola is an open source technology which was originally intended to be used to explain the concept of open source software. The article gives a good example of how an open source approach can be used by entrepreneurs to market a new product without having to go through the expensive research and development costs that companies like Coca-Cola and Pepsi went through.

The Synaptic Leap
http://thesynapticleap.org/malaria/?q=about

This really isn’t an article, but it is The Synaptic Leap home page. In the about section of their web site, they list their mission statement, why they are doing the things they are doing, and some background on the organization. Their mission statement is “provide a network of online research communities that connect and enable open source biomedical research.” The reason why they are doing this is simple, “We believe that effective collaborative community tools that promote transparent research and connect resources will:
1. generate ideas more quickly
2. reduce redundant work
Thus, ultimately cures will be discovered more quickly and more effectively.”

This website relates to the topic of our white paper because it shows how open source ideals are used to the benefit others. This fits in perfectly in the subsection of the white paper dealing with how open source is working. It relates to the publication (The Synaptic Leap website) by informing everyone what their organization is all about. It directly relates to the Wikipedia source dealing with open source by offering a specific example to what that source was discussing.

whaBAM!

Linux goes whaBAM!
IT Manager’s Journal

This article provides a fairly extensive source of information on the start-up of whaBAM!. In addition to that, it discusses many of the open source technologies that whaBAM! uses and how a company can benefit from using these technologies. The article then goes on to discuss how whaBAM! is specifically benefiting from using open source technologies.

This article was particularly helpful in identifying an extensive amount of background information on whaBAM!. This information was important in the discussion of whaBAM!’s early years and many of the companies unique philosophies. The information about the different open source software that was used to create, and is still used to power the website is very important in the discussion of how whaBAM! operates. Another situation where this article was really appreciated was in the development of the connection between whaBAM! and the open source technologies that it uses. Consequently, this information was also very useful when comparing whaBAM! to eBay.

whaBAM.com, the Newest Premier Online Auction Community, Now Supports RSS and XML Feeds
PR Newswire

This article also provided a small summary of how whaBAM! was initially started. Furthermore, it provided copious amounts of information on the different technologies that whaBAM! optimizes. These technologies are not only limited to open source technologies, but that is a large portion of the discussion.

The information presented in this article was very key in explaining some of the technological advances of whaBAM!. One of the most helpful sections in the article involved mentioning the different open source software that whaBAM! uses. This article also discussed what programs are contained in the LAMP package and some of the specifics about how they are used by whaBAM!. Information about RSS and XML technologies were also presented in an easy to understand way in this article. Additionally, the article explained how RSS allows users to access their auction information from many portable devices. This information about RSS technology really helped when trying to explain some of ways that whaBAM! has taken a technological step above eBay.

whaBAM!
http://www.whabam.com

The whaBAM! website provides ample information about many of the company policies of whaBAM!. This information included the pricing structure, security policies, safeguards, privacy protection, and a very extensive user agreement.

The whaBAM! website was probably the most important source for writing about whaBAM! It provided more knowledge about the founders as well as some of the philosophies and goals of the company. In addition, there is a very clear description of the pricing structures that are available to sellers. Because this information was used for describing whaBAM!, this source was very important. Not only did the site provide information about the site, it also discussed how whaBAM! is different from its competitors. This information was very important in the section comparing whaBAM! to eBay. Information about the privacy and security of whaBAM!’s users was needed to discuss how it compares to eBay in stress-free shopping. This information was included in several sections within the report.

Intero Real Estate Chooses WhaBAM! as Exclusive Online Marketing Vendor
PR Newswire
URL: http://www.forbes.com/prnewswire/feeds/prnewswire/2006/02/02/prnewswire200602021527PR_NEWS_B_NWT_SF_SFTH108.html

This article, it explains why there is a unite between Intero Real Estate (a large real estate company) based out in California and WhaBAM! (a small new premier online auction). One of the reasons why Intero decided to use the newly developed auction site are because they feel as though their clients receive significantly higher online exposure for their brokered homes, supported by the ongoing promotional activities of both Intero and WhaBAM!

This article will be very significant and important to other businesses who have thought about the idea of moving online and try to make more profits from it. The article was written to perhaps show that WhaBAM! has a good company that is supporting their business, but to also point out that the reason is because Intero Real Estate perceives another business opportunity to grow even bigger and the possibility of being the dominant real estate business in history. This source added great value to the paper as a whole.

Ditching those Unwanted Holiday Gifts
Daily Record and the Kansas City Daily News-Press
URL: http://www2.lib.purdue.edu:2048/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=960017261&sid=2&Fmt=3&clientId=31343&RQT=309&VName=PQD

In this article, it talks about the dirty little secret of holiday regifting. A three month old website called Whabam.com was promoting its service as a way to sell unwanted holiday gifts. Recipients simply post items on the site, then pay a one percent service fee when they are sold. This process offers a cool usefulness and a supportive way for people to sell unwanted items.

It goes in depth and discuss how some people regift the gifts that they receive from another family member and give it to someone else who might benefit from the gift. Instead, the article also talks about how WhaBAM! can solve this issue by selling unwanted gifts online people can avoid the potential re-gifting embarrassment, and best of all, buyers can find some amazing deals from sellers who paid nothing for their gifts. Once a gift is given, it is up to the recipient to do with the gist as they wish, whether it be returning it or re-gifting it.

Court Fight over Ebay Sale
This is Money
URL: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money-savers/article.html?in_article_id=404203&in_page_id=5

In this particular article, it states all the problems that Ebay are going through and have listed some of the complaints. It is significant to the paper as it highlights some serious flaws about Ebay and the PayPal system. The article is flooded with complaints from buyers and sellers whose transactions have gone wrong and they are at the end trying to get their money back.

Most of Ebay transactions are going through the PayPal system. In order to use the system, the buyer or seller has to setup an account with PayPal online, entering their name, address and credit card details. When you buy an item on eBay, you transfer funds into your PayPal account and it passes the money on to the seller. The service is free for buyers, but PayPal takes commission of the sale price. The article also talks about the protection laws that PayPal promise to the client. However, there are some laws out that do not cover the PayPal system such as the Sale of Goods Act and Distance Selling Regulations. This source really helps in relation to the negativity that Ebay has.