“I’ve been working on a business model which has the potential
to build and support a large scale service industry. I see free
software and services as a viable alternative to proprietary
efforts to control the residential networking and automation
market, and have posted a free business plan to show how this may
be accomplished.”
“I’ve been thinking about a business model based on free
software, similar to what Frank Hecker calls “Software Franchising”
(Setting Up Shop). And I’ve been thinking about how this business
model could be applied to a specific, relatively large and growing
business area: residential networking.”
“My idea is to build a Linux computer (appliance, gateway,
server) and network into every new house. This system could be
adapted to existing housing (probably more emphasis on wireless
than on structured wiring), apartments, etc. This system would
connect to the Internet, and internally could interface to
telephone, audio, video, HVAC, security system, lighting controls,
and pretty much anything else that the user fancies (and can
trust).”
“Everything I’ve mentioned exists now, and there are dozens of
companies actively trying to foist such systems upon the public.
Their progress is being slowed by many factors, including (in no
particular order): incompatible technology, high price, poor
reliability, lack of training and understanding, and bad software.
What all of these problems cry out for is service.”