General Motors Embraces Open Source for New Community Site

An anonymous reader writes "GM has introduced a new website called GMnext. The site utilizes Wordpress and launching in spring a Wiki allowing General Motors to get better feedback on topics such as energy, design and technology from the community. The interesting part is the executives at GM are participating in the collaborative website. 'We're starting our second century at a time of fundamental change in the auto industry,' said GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner. 'We'll use GMnext to introduce some of our ideas for addressing critical issues concerning energy, the environment and globalization. In the process, we also hope to spark a broader, global discussion on these important topics.'"

Orginizational Participation is Key

[milsoRgen]

I like the idea but I don't see it going very far or very long. GM isn't really going to support any negative few points, maybe if you're really careful with your wording. But I see censorship being the issue short term and actual GM participation being the long term question. That being said, I would love to see something like this from an organization like Consumer Reports.

WTF?

[sxeraverx]

Saying using Wordpress is embracing open source is like saying using the LAMP stack for a webserver is embracing open source. In that sense, almost ever company out there has embraced open source by now. But we know that to not be the case.

open source?

[AdamReyher]

Don't get me wrong: I think the idea is great. But you're going to tell me that GM is "embracing" Open Source simply by creating a blog and a wiki by using the two most popular software titles in those categories?

All of a sudden GM is elevated to the Google or Sun status in terms of FOSS on Slashdot. Typical.

I might not be pyschic but....

[ILuvRamen]

So they're making a community interaction site to get people's ideas and suggestions and opinions on their company and the environment. Hmm, well I'm not psychic but I bet they're going to say they want more fuel efficient vehicles or ones that don't run on gasoline and to stop with the pension sinkhole problem.

Just gimme the damn Volt.

[pkulak]

No other suggestions. No need for a whole damn wiki.

As a GM performance tuner...

[pongo000]

...who programs GM computers for performance applications, I'll buy into GM "embracing" open source when they release the programming specs and memory layout for their PCMs, ECMs, and TCMs (powertrain, engine, and transmission control modules). Short of that, their use of WordPress really doesn't impress me (pun intended).

Astroturfing

[amias]

This will only ever be Astroturfing [wikipedia.org] until they stop their massive political lobbying efforts that are going the other way.
Expect to see lots of deleted or amended posts and unusually eloquent supporters of GM's corporate goals.

I'd like to see full disclosure of the sites web logs so that third parties can verify that comments are not just from gm funded lobbyists.

Toodle-pip
Amias