| Philip makes an interesting point I have heard before.
But this needs to be clarified free software is not the same as unsupported software. Many people confuse free and open source and the two are not the same.
The whole concept of GNU/Open source is based on providing support for a cost and the software source for free. A good example is Linux which most people are familiar with. You get various free desktop and server applications but if you want to modify and customize them then support may cost you money, similar projects like PHP and MySql are also open source and almost 'free' and have financially strong companies like Zend,TcX,SAP,HP and IBM supporting these products. Please visit these sites and check their partner information.
osCommerce is also open source and free, this allows you to buy support from a larger pool of talented programmers at a lower cost than from a closed source project. Check the forums for paid support.
I also want to point out that several companies are in the business of providing support for many open source projects like osCommerce, many of them are hosting companies because much of the open source requirements are related to eCommerce and this differentiates themselves from other hosting companies. So just because the product is free does not equate to it being unsupported. If the product is free and open source like osCommerce the reverse if often true. And yes, you will get support for your shopping cart if you select a company that provides the support for osCommerce shopping carts. |