(Forwarded from Free Software Foundation Europe Discussion list. FAQ page from web site pasted below. -- Seth) -------- Original Message -------- Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 10:22:58 +0100 From: Jan Wildeboer To: discussion@fsfeurope.org I just got this in my mail and am quite surprised. Is this coordinated/endorsed with/by the FSF or just a private action? Jan Wildeboer -------- Original Message -------- Resent-Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 02:50:22 +0100 (CET) Resent-From: uugrn@uugrn.org Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 17:25:42 -0600 From: Consorcio Software Libre Organization: Consorcio Software Libre We would like to invite you to be a founding members of the FSC either as a Consultant and/or an Agent. > http://www.fsconsortium.com On the main page you will find links to subscribe as consultant and/or agent. Free Software Consortium is a multinational consortium established to link the companies and the independent consultants that use and promote free software. One of the bigger obstacles to the development of the free software services market is the fear of many companies to establish contracts with independent consultants who do not have support of a well known Company, Corporation or Consortium. Questioning quality, support, experience and capability to successfully complete a project are the companies manager's main concerns when considering the option of migrating their systems to free software. Like you, we know the excellent quality that Free Software offers. We have complete confidence that Free Software is going to be the platform of the future. That is why it's so important to work and consolidate together to solve the problem mentioned above. Free Software Consortium intends to fill this void joining the best free software companies and consultants at the national and international level. By joining to Free Software Consortium you or your company will have the following benefits: 1. Possibility of being hired by other Consortium members. 2. Possibility of hiring other Consortium members. 3. Use of the Consortium image and name with your clients. 4. Use of the Consortium's resources like Publicity Brochures, Business Cards, Banners for presentations and events, financial presentations, publicity articles for the press and magazines, support via mailing list and forums with the Consortium's members, marketing and communication assistance, CD's and manuals from the Consortium, site and mail hosting (yourarea.fsc.cc) and other future services. 5. Representation of the FS Consortium in your area to share administrative, legal and marketing resources between the Consultant members in your area. Free Software Consortium will establish a contract with an Agent company which will have exclusive representation in it's area, in charge of organizing the consultants in the area. This Agent company will provide the administrative services, marketing and sales with the local customers. >From the business generated by the Free Software Consortium, the Agent company will receive 20% of the value of the contract, and the Consultant or Consulting company will receive 80%. The Free Software Consortium is developing a new business model and invites you to join as a founding member and contribute in developing this new business model. We need your valuable help to give us ideas and comments. Please write to info@fsconsortium.com Thank you for your attention. Free Software Consortium http://www.fsconsortium.com info@fsc.cc _______________________________________________ Discussion mailing list Discussion@fsfeurope.org https://mailman.fsfeurope.org/mailman/listinfo/discussion ---- > http://www.fsconsortium.com/faq.html Frequently Asked Questions When and why was the FSC constituted? Free Software Consortium is being formed during the second half of 2002, through the affiliation of Consultants and Agents in different geographical locations. The FSC has emerged from a consolidation of professionals and companies that joined efforts to offer solid support and highly professional solutions based on Free Software. FSC seeks to meet a market demand not previously filled, particularly within the Corporate market. Why are you using the logo with the red parrot (Papagayo)? The Papagayo was chosen as a symbol of the commitment of the Free Software Consortium with the Agenda 21 or any other social or development initiative. Agenda 21 is a worldwide effort to protect the environment and fight extreme poverty. Details in: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/agenda21.htm The FSC is today supporting Agenda 21 and the Development Gateway Foundation www.developmentgateway.org through the implementation of a software plataform for multisectorial cooperation. What are the short term plans of the Free Software Consortium? The short term plans of the Consortium are: Q1-Q2 2003: To enroll a worldwide community of Consulters and Agents/Companies Q3 2003: To discuss the main governance issues between the members. Q4 2003: To vote and define the main governance issues between the members. What kind of associates does the FSC have? The Free Software Consortium has two types of Associates: The Consultant: Is the professional with wide experience in solutions based on free software and implements solutions directly with his clients. The Consultant is bound to his local Agent or directly to the FSC. The Consultant can also be a local Agent. The local Agent: Is the entity that puts in practice FSC's business model in his locality. What requisites/criteria are you requesting for Agents? At this moment the only requisite is to be able to sell free software services at their location. Starting Q3, 2003, new requisites, defined by the free software members, consulters and agents, may be required. Agents and their local consulters will be strongly advised to cooperate in any social project in their community (installing GNU/Linux in schools, consulting for social agencies,etc). What requisites/criteria are you requesting for Consulters? At this moment the only requisite is to be knowledgeable in any specific area related to free software. Starting Q3, 2003, new requisites, defined by the free software members, consulters and agents, may be requested. Who can join the FSC? Any consultant or entrepreneur that is familiar with the free software movement and is interested to participate in this new business model. How could I join the FSC? Fill the form: Consultant Agent Which services does FSC offers to its affiliates? Free Software Consortium Multinational membership (Corporative presence). International Support Network. Manuals, Media, Printed Licenses. Hosting in our servers, with mail accounts and sub domains. Graphic arts for brochures and press, news paper advertisements, business cards Installation, Support, Maintenance, andApplications Development, based on free software. Contracts and regulations between the Consultants and the local Agents. Joint development of this innovative business model. Communication channels in accordance with our Governance Policies Which countries does the FSC cover? The FSC has global scope. Our international operations are located in Vancouver. For the clients in the United States, we have an office in Miami, Florida, and for the Spanish speaking countries, our offices are located in Costa Rica. What is the responsibility of the Local Agent? To consolidate a high level free software network of professionals in his locality. To promote and market the Free Software Consortium supply in the local market through different marketing techniques. How much must the Local Agent pay? The annual introductory fee is US$250.00 What happens when a region serviced by consultants does not have the representation of a local agent ? Free Software Consortium will concentrate its efforts on searching local representation and, if fails, it could eventually assume your locality's representation. How are Corporate accounts handled? Normally, the Local Agent assumes the management of the clients in his locality. Nevertheless, when the agent considers it convenient, the Consortium can assume the representation in order to increase the corporate presence. What is the vision of the future of the Free Software Consortium? The Consortium's vision is to create a new business model suitable for free software and social responsibility. We expect the worldwide consolidation not just of the Free Software Consortium, but also of other new initiatives/forks, with similar models, consolidating free software and promoting social awareness and responsibility.