Optaros Hires Ex-Microsoft Manager to Build Relations With Key Open Source Software Development CommunitiesAbout Optaros

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Cambridge, MA — Feb. 18, 2005 — Optaros Inc., the recently launched open source consulting and systems integration firm, today announced the hiring of Stephen Walli to a key new position: Vice-President, Open Source Development Strategy. In this role, he will help Optaros’ clients - large business and government organizations using open source software to cut costs and increase their technology options — to effectively interact with and benefit from the applications development initiatives of key open source communities.

Walli joins Cambridge-based Optaros from Microsoft Corp., where he had worked since 1999. For the last two years, he was a business development manager in Microsoft's Platforms Management Team, a job in which he was responsible for determining how the software giant could work with the world's burgeoning number of open source software development projects. Such software is developed in "communities" of otherwise unaffiliated programmers who collaborate on systems that can be shared at little or no cost.

In his role at Optaros, he will work with both open source communities and company clients. For the latter group, Walli will evaluate the viability of different open source software components and the communities that are building them. He will also work closely with such communities to plug gaps and address the needs of Optaros' clients.

“You can't buy influence in these communities,” Walli explained. “You have to earn your way in. It's important to contribute to the communities according to their rules. My role is to represent the communities into Optaros, and represent our clients’ needs back into the communities,” he said.

Unlike the world of commercial software, organizations that want to take advantage of the increasing number of open source software components face a much different procurement process. Optaros was launched in 2004, in part, to help large organizations navigate in this new, complex market and identify and implement high-quality open source applications for running key parts of their operations.

Walli said he was attracted to Optaros because of the quality of the management team and its quest. “I was incredibly impressed with the Optaros team. They are a very focused group, intent on delivering value to their clients while being strong open source advocates.” In addition, he said, “I care a great deal about the business model around open source. The open source community has absolutely demonstrated the viability and reliability of this software. This job allows me to drive that business model forward and participate in the open source community from a good place.”

Said Bob Gett, Optaros’ chief executive officer: “Interacting with the open source community in a positive manner is integral to our success. We believe that these relationships should benefit both the community and our clients. We are fortunate and excited to have found Stephen to fill this critical new role. In addition, his knowledge of the open source arena and how proprietary and open source software can work together to make cost-effective business applications will be important as we build Optaros and serve our clients.”

About Optaros

Optaros is a consulting and systems integration firm that helps enterprises solve IT business problems by providing services and solutions that maximize the benefits of open source software. Bringing together experts in creating enterprise IT solutions and experts in the power of open source, Optaros plans and builds business systems that give you better value today and increased control in the future. For more about Optaros, go towww.optaros.com