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Linux is a free Unix-type operating system originally created by Linus Torvalds.Developed under the GNU General Public License , the source code for Linux is freelyavailable to everyone. According to IBM, Linux is currently the fastest growingserver operating system.
Once businesses have chosen their operating system, the next task is usuallysourcing out a POS (point of sale) system. At the best of times, sourcing out a POSsystem for your business operation can be a confusing, time consuming and arduousjob. Throw in the added obstacle of having to select point of sale software thatcan actually run on your operating system, and itÂ's easy to see why business ownersshy away from this difficult and often expensive task.
Research has shown that the number of POS terminals running Linux in North Americahas increased 80% since 2002. The reason why is simple; Linux, as an operatingsystem, is more cost effective, flexible, and allows for greater freedom of choicein software than more mainstream operating systems. Linux is also very costeffective in regards to licensing, installation, administrative and support costs.Linux can offer all these features without sacrificing functionality. For retailersand restaurant/hospitality operators alike, cost and ease of use are king, andreasons such as these can make the difference between a business that succeeds and abusiness that fails.
POS software providers have been slow, however, to jump on the Linux bandwagon. Currently, there are few well-known or enterprise-wide POS software packagesavailable for Linux. One company, however, has seen a niche in the market and hasembraced it head on. Volante POS Systems of Toronto, Canada offers a POS solutionthat has been developed entirely in Java. Java is cross platform compatible andoperates in multiple environments  this gives the user freedom to choose Linux,Windows 2000/XP, or Windows and Linux. For many operators, having a choice is key.
Not only does Java provide cross platform compatibility, but like Linux, using JavaPOS solutions can be cost effective as well, as Java allows users the opportunity tosave on additional Windows license fees, as an example. JavaÂ's open standardarchitecture allows the entire system to be compatible with third party industrialapplications. Users are free to choose their operating environment and are not boundto costly proprietary restrictions.
Volante also offers integration with Windows-based back office applications. Thisflexibility is rare in the POS industry. For more information on VolanteÂ's Linux &Java POS solutions, visit their www.volantesystems.com or email them atsales@volantesystems.com.
From a retail perspective, Linux is definitely catching on. Burlington CoatFactory, for instance, has already rolled out Linux in all of their locations, bothas a desktop and POS system. Other retailers/restauranteurs currently using Linuxin their stores include: Papa JohnÂ's, Garden Fresh, MarkÂ's Work Wearhouse, HomeDepot, and Gap, to name a few.
The push for Linux isnÂ't just in North America, either. Asian governments arelooking closely at Linux, hoping it will lead to the development of a domesticsoftware industry that isnÂ't hostage to foreign licenses. According to LinuxInsider International, Â Asia is emerging as a key battleground for the open-sourcemovement. The Japan-China-Korea (JCK) partnership, announced last month in Osaka, isthe latest in a string of initiatives to promote Linux. Two weeks earlier, Singaporehosted the second annual Asia Open Source Symposium, where 20 Asian countriesdiscussed closer collaboration in standardization, localization and interoperabilityof Linux software.Â
So, when choosing an operating system and subsequent point of sale system, considerLinux. Discover for yourself why Linux is the fastest growing server operatingsystem.
