- Libre Concept and Bootstrapping it
- What are Libre Services?
Libre Services are an extension of the principles of the Free
Software movement to the domain of Internet Application Services.
Free Software is completely transparent: it may be freely copied,
modified and redistributed. Libre Services are similarly transparent:
they are Internet Application Services that may be freely copied,
modified, reproduced, and redistributed in their entirety.
The Libre Services model exists in relationship to the proprietary ASP
model (AOL, MSN, Yahoo), in an analogous way to how GNU/Linux exists
in relation to Microsoft Windows. Both Libre Services and GNU/Linux
are open and free models, and both have enormous latent power for
organic, collective growth. Both models have an inherent capability to
provide ever-increasing richness of funtionality, and they will
eventually overtake and supplant their proprietary antagonists
completely.
This is already happening with GNU/Linux; the same thing will happen
with Libre Services. This will not happen soon; the struggle for
survival of the proprietary ASP model will be long and bitter.
Microsoft Windows, and AOL, will not go gentle into that good night.
But eventually, this will happen.
It is in the nature of non-mater to thrive only when not restricted.
- Organic Growth Model
A complete definition of Libre Services is provided in
A Vision for Free Internet Application
Services.
By definition, Libre Services are based exclusively on Free Protocols,
and implemented entirely in Free Software and Open-Source Software.
Libre Services do not include a single line of proprietary code.
Any individual or institution can reproduce and host any Libre Service
for themselves, in effect becoming their own ASP. Libre Services thus
have an inherent ability to evolve organically, in terms of both scale
and capabilities. This organic growth model is radically different
from the existing, proprietary Application Services model. Libre
Services have the potential to grow unboundedly, and ultimately
surpass the proprietary model. The growth potential of Libre Services
matches that of the Internet itself: it is truly global.
Libre Services are the future of the Internet ASP industry.
- Usage Models
Libre Services can be provided to individuals and corporations in any
of three major delivery models:
- Hosted Libre Services.
- Franchised, colocated Libre Services.
- Franchised, on-premise Libre Services.
- Early Manifestations of Libre Services
Libre Services are not merely an abstract concept-they are an actual,
working construct. Several sets of Libre Services have been
implemented, deployed, and are in operation today. To experiment with
and learn more about Libre Services, you can visit and try out any of
the following services:
- ByName. The ByName services are the world's first Libre
Services. They are fully functioning showcase demonstration of what
Libre Services can do. They provide a complete suite of Internet
Application Services for the individual user, including a personal
domain, personal website, e-mail, integrated support for mobility,
WhiteBerry mobile messaging, and all the other usual amenities.
Anyone can sign up for a free ByName account and begin enjoying
their Libre Services today. To learn more and get started, visit:
http://www.ByName.com.
- ByNumber. The ByName services complement the ByName
services by providing an alternative means of access to personal
services based on a number assigned to the user, rather than the
user's name. ByNumber allows access to services using devices that
are primarily numeric in nature, such as pagers and telephone
keypads.
http://www.ByNumber.com.
- ByAlias. All user-specific elements of a user's ByName
account (domains, e-mail accounts, websites, etc.) are based on the
user's name. ByName users are required to provide their real names
for this purpose; pseudonyms and aliases are not permitted. This
implies a certain standard of authenticity and integrity on the part
of both the ByName service and the ByName user.
However, there are circumstances under which a user may wish to
protect his or her true identity behind an alias. The ByAlias
service is available to support this requirement. It is a companion
service to ByName, providing appropriate services to the user while
maintaining full confidentiality.
http://www.ByAlias.com.
- BySME. The ByName services are oriented primarily to the
needs of the individual user. The BySME services provide similar
functionality, but oriented specifically to the needs of the
Small-to-Medium Enterprise (SME) sector.
http://www.BySME.com.
- ByWhere. The ByWhere services provide a set of services
that are oriented to physical locations rather than individual or
business entities. Such services are useful to individual users, who
can use ByWhere services for their personal residence, or to
corporate users, who can the services for their business address.
http://www.ByWhere.net.
- Liber Services components
The above manifestations are only the beginning, and the Libre
Services concept has a long way to go to reach maturity. However,
various elements of Libre Services are ready to use today as
plug-and-play components, including:
- Libre message centers (Qmail etc.)
- Libre web services
- WhiteBerry
- Libre HylaFax
- Libre Wi-Fi
All of these components are ready for immediate deployment as
practical solutions.
- Support for Libre Services
Various resources exist to support usage and growth of the Libre
Services model.
- The Libre Services Manifesto.
The Libre Services Manifesto is the basic defining document for
Libre Services, providing a complete description of the concept and
philosophy.
- The Free Protocols Foundation. By definition, Libre
Services are based exclusively on free protocols. The Free Protocols
Foundation provides support for the creation and maintenance of free
protocols.
http://www.FreeProtocols.org
- Software distribution centers. Several software
distribution centers exist to support deployment of Libre Services:
- How to Participate
If you would like to get involved in the Libre Services movement,
there are several ways you can participate:
- If you want to try out Libre Services for yourself, either as an
individual or a corporation, you can begin using any of the existing
Libre Services. A great place to start is by signing up for your own
free ByName account at:
http://My.ByName.com
- If you want to become a ByName franchisee, you can get all the
software necesary for this from the above distribution sites.
- You can deploy any of the Libre Services components as part of
an application of your own.
- Related Websites
- Free Protocols Foundation. The Libre Services concept
fully embodies the philosophy and principles of the Free Protocols
Foundation.
http://www.FreeProtocols.org
- MailMeAnywhere. Everything required to recreate the ByName
Service is available at the MailMeAnywhere software distribution
site.
http://www.MailMeAnywhere.org
- Neda Communications, Inc. The ByName services have been
created and are maintained by Neda Communications, Inc.
http://www.neda.com
- Comments, Feedback, Problem Reports