Port 25 is Open
Today Bill Hilf presented the first ever Microsoft keynote at a LinuxWorld event. Bill’s keynote at LinuxWorld is a clear indication that the dialogue is changing and a new discussion is developing -- a more mature, technical discussion, around specific uses of Open Source, the implications of operating in heterogeneous environments, and the need for a more technical exchange on the evolving world of Windows, Linux and Open Source Software.
During his keynote Bill launched "Port 25: Communications from the Open Source Software Lab @ Microsoft". Port 25 is a Microsoft community web site designed to facilitate a deeper dialogue around the interoperability issues surrounding Windows, Linux, UNIX and Open Source Software. Port 25 will feature the people, insights and analysis from the Microsoft Open Source Software Lab and allow customers direct access to the lab staff and the technical research underway in the lab.
This sounds like a great initiative and community web site where customers – working in increasingly heterogeneous IT environments and asking for a greater level of interoperability and integration from their IT vendors – can get a deeper dialogue around the interoperability issues that surround Windows, Linux, UNIX and Open Source Software.
After the Microsoft blogs (MSDN & TechNet), Channel9, MIX06 where everyone was invited to join the conversation on the next web and On10, the opening of Port 25 is another example of Microsoft inviting the community to join the conversation and get to a dialogue.
Note also the name “Port 25”, which is the server-side port for SMTP, sometimes referred to as the communications Port. Microsoft is opening Port 25 for discussion around Open Source Software and Microsoft.
