Hi Harold, apologies if this has already been mentioned before but Ubuntu model maybe - there is an interview with Mark Shuttleworth - he invested into this but the interview goes further into the business model - maybe it fits into no 2 ?

I'm very interested at the moment in open source business models for mobile apps - it will be really interesting to see what models emerge as mobile device usage increases further. Am really excited by this - say you are in a nation / community / area that does not have good pc internet connectivity or you can't afford a pc but have a mobile device.

If there are then possibilities to self-author mobile apps using your devices (or persuading your friends/family/colleagues to let you mess around with theirs), it would be great to find a business model for you to be able to provide maybe localised services (such as an open source directory enquiries type thing)?

Or expand to wider communities by partnering with a larger technology manufacturer or service provider - and persuading them that open source is essential requirement ?