2012: Great year for Linux

To summarize, 2012 was a great year for Linux Operating System. The Linux Foundation has released a video to announce the increasing popularity and achievements of the Linux Operating System.

Among all the achievements obtained by Linux Operating System, from my perspective, these are, from more to less important, the ones to highlight [1]:

• Red Hat achieved $1 billion in revenue, the first time an open source vendor reached that milestone. It is a key data to demonstrate that, a company whose core business is based on FLOSS, can be profitable.
•  Android has increased its position to control more than 50 percent of the American mobile market. Moreover this, it is considered that world globally, Android has reached 75% of global market share, reaching 136 million units shipped in 2012 Q3.
• The availability of the Steam distribution platform for Linux. This fact can be a key factor for Linux to start being used in Desktop computers, the only Operating System Market where Linux is pending to place a decisive position.
• The automotive industry’s adoption of Linux-based solutions.
• HP became a Platinum Member of the Linux Foundation. Apart from the important economic impulse that this means for the Linux Foundation, the key factor is the importance of having another huge company interested on Linux Operating System.

Apart from previous facts, there has been other occurrences that must be distinguished, as they are less important in terms of economic aspects, but are important as well to clarify Linux Operating System good health in 2012:

• Linux founder, Linus Torvalds, has received the Millenium Technology Prize.
• Dell‘s Sputnik Ubuntu-based laptop.
• The advent of Chromebooks, which is a clarifying movement from Google to bet on Linux Operating System for the Desktop market.

To summarize, it seems that Linux Operating System is in one of its best moments, and project sustainability is ensured. Apart from preserving its market position in other environments, year 2012 has supposed big advances in other markets, such as Mobile Operating Systems. On the other hand, year 2013 will clarify if Linux ends to play a key role in Desktop Computers market, depending on success of Chromebooks and together with Steam as gaming platform.



References:
[1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unfx2qCj6Ao
[2] http://www.thevarguy.com/2012/12/14/measuring-linuxs-success-in-2012/
[3] http://www.linuxfoundation.org/news-media/blogs/browse/2012/12/what-year-linux-please-join-us-celebration
[4] http://techcrunch.com/2012/11/02/idc-android-market-share-reached-75-worldwide-in-q3-2012/
[5] http://techcrunch.com/2012/09/19/coming-to-a-car-near-you-linux-goes-automotive-signs-up-harman-intel-toyota-samsungs-tizen-and-more/
[6] http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/05/hp-linux-platinum-member/