One of the most important benefits of open architecture is that anyone can design add-on products that will work with the original software.
In this way, open architecture tends to ensure that many other compatible products will be available to work with the original, open-sourced product.
With Linux, for example, a company can encourage other developers to write applications and utility software for their product. This is good for the company, since the availability of many add-ons will make its product more useful and popular.
This open architecture technology is also good for the developers, since their development costs will be lower, and there will be a large market for their offerings.
Another major benefit of open architecture is that customers can be reasonably confident that there will be a large development community to support it, and that it will be frequently upgraded and improved. Open architecture software is less likely to become outdated, and there is much less chance that it will go unsupported because one particular company goes out of business or decides to drop the product.
Business buyers also experience a benefit in that the cost of ownership is generally lower because the customer is less likely to be locked in and dependent on a single vendor. Since the products are standards-based, there are fewer barriers to switching from one supplier to another.
Organizations also come to realize that by utilizing open architecture, product add-ons, maintenance and training all tend to cost less, since there are usually numerous parties providing the necessary software and services.
Analysts point out that companies that want a one-stop shop and a single point of accountability for their systems and software may be better off using a proprietary solution. But for those companies that want best-of-breed options for their applications and system components, procuring products based on an open architecture gives them the flexibility they are looking for.
This is especially true if they’re willing to invest some time and effort up front selecting and integrating the different components of their system. In return, they will get a highly adaptable, easily modifiable system that has a longer life span and costs less to maintain.
Want to learn more? Tonex offers Open Architecture Fundamentals, a 2-day course that covers an introduction to the future of architecture for telecommunications. Participants learn about the Open Digital Architecture (ODA), why it is needed and learn the basic principles and building blocks
Participants will also learn about the ODA (Open Digital Architecture) principles and building blocks used by the world’s leading communications service providers and technology suppliers.
For more information, questions, comments, contact us.