Image: “Keep calm and use open source” (MedithIT/CC by)
Four open source CMS join forces
TYPO3, Drupal, WordPress and Joomla come together to create the Open Website Alliance (Goodtech.info). The OWA “aims to promote the choice of open source software for the creation and management of websites. The alliance also aims to facilitate collaboration between open source content management projects to improve the quality, security and sustainability of the open web. (…)
Joint developments will promote greater interoperability between WordPress (the largest CMS in the world), Joomla, Drupal and Typo3. Other open source CMS can join this alliance if they wish (we are obviously thinking of SPIP or even Sanity and GravCMS).”
A takeover offer from MariaDB Corporation
In 2009, MariaDB was born, a database management software fork of MySQL (after its takeover by Oracle), as well as a foundation and a company, MariaDB Corporation. TechCrunch indicated that the latter was approached by an investment fund, K1 Investment Management, which offered $37 million.
If this approach ever leads to an acquisition, it would be the continuation of the misadventures of MariaDB Corporation: it has raised $230 million in capital over the years, went public in December 2022 with an initial capitalization of $445 million. dollars (already down from its previous valuation of 672 million, underlines TechCrunch). But its value plunged precipitously, to around 10 million. K1 has until March 29 to formalize its offer or abandon it.
A new CEO for Fairphone
Fairphone announces the appointment of Reinier Hendriks as the new CEO of the Dutch company. He has a career “spanning more than two decades in the telecommunications, technology and financial services sectors” and “has held several senior management positions at renowned industrial leaders, including Vodafone and KPN (…). In his previous role as CEO of LeasePlan Corporation, Reinier also oversaw the organization’s rapid expansion, while focusing on its transition to electric vehicles.
“Reinier joins Fairphone after a pivotal year for the company, marked by the celebration of a decade of ethical innovation and a substantial €49 million fundraising from influential investors [en janvier 2023, NDLR]. A capital injection that allows Fairphone to accelerate its growth trajectory, while pursuing its core mission: promoting more ethical electronics on a global scale.”
Reinier Hendriks succeeds Noud Tillemans, CFO and interim CEO since mid-2023 (he replaced Eva Gouwens, who had held this position for six years), who is leaving the company.
A mobile phone project for 50 euros
The “Paxo Phone” designed by Gabriel Rochet, a 17-year-old Frenchman, presented by France 24, “is a small revolution. Placed under the sign of sobriety, this mobile phone does not house a camera or social networks, but it allows you to make calls and send messages. The device can be dismantled and repaired, and personal data is protected”[butcanthisopensourcedevicebedescribedasa“smartphone”asFrance24does?)[maiscetappareilopensourcepeut-ilêtrequalifiéde«smartphone»commelefaitFrance24?)
Read also
French business sites: WordPress and open source largely dominate – October 28, 2023
Le Libre, catalyst for responsible projects – April 20, 2022
Open source database: MariaDB raises $25 million – July 14, 2020