Geoff,
Talk about timing!
Have just started on a job with a client that has been running RH9 for almost 4 years
on 150 PCs. They run a call centre and are in the process of a takeover of their final competitor in this country.
They need to upgrade in the not too distant future, and at the same time , almost double their number of desktops.
The client also has 12 odd Windows boxes for those that "have" to have it.... He has clear evidence (IT support invoices) to show that those 12 boxes cost him more in maintenance over the last 3 years than what the 150 Linux boxen did, and, he is quite willing to tell the world about it.... He has said more than once that he would not have made it this far so fast if he had to run Windows in his call centre. HE puts it down to reliability. He has given us a mandate to remove all of the Windows PCs providing we can convince the users (with some help and pushing from him).
We were considering RH Desktops, the apps they use are all browser based so it really doesn;t matter what they use.... I had started down the road of RH because of the support...... but your announcement here changes things from a business perspective for the client. It means that we can offer Ubuntu as a choice because we won;t be slinging him with something that requires an individual to maintain. If I amnd my team get hit by a bus....he can come to you guys for help if he ever needs it!
They also run a few RHEL and Windows Servers.....we were going to go for a big press release when the desktops and servers were finished being upgraded..... this could be a great opp all round.
The only thing that I have trouble with it all, is support for visually impaired users. A couple of his gun sales people have varying degrees of impairment, and they get "sweaty" when we start talking about moving them away from windows. This I understand....the re-learning for such an individual would be a massive task.... so, there is a first prob to be solved and it is maybe the first thing that the Ubuntu team could help with.
The other thing to note is that they have started using Asterisk to run 30 of their 90 phone lines....and are absolutely chuffed with what it can do. All future offices will use Asterisk!
If it wasn;t for the fact that he had spent $50,000 on a PABX the entire 90 lines would be running on Asterisk....
What can we do? Do you think the group can get involved? If so, how?
Would you like to meet these guys with us? We could organise for their
office in Sydney or Melbourne...both CBD based.
For the moment, would like to keep this off list, the client needs to keep a low profile the next couple of weeks while he is on market doing his competitor buyout....
Regards
Brent Wallis
Mobile: 0408 576 779