1) There are lots of companies who have hardware expertise, so if they get GSM stack for free and they way to implement the baseband, it would be easy for them to integrate and catch up fast with us?
Rajiv: That is true in part. The GPL licensing follows the viral model and if they modify the baseband software then legally they are supposed to supply the source code with it as well. That in turn ends up improving the product. If they do not do so, they will be infringing upon our copyright!
Catching up with us will still take time because we will have a headstart over others. Also we are the ones who manage the main tree of the source code. And someone who wants to use our software and not contribute would be doing so at their own peril, since they will have to keep backporting everytime we do a release. It would be cost effective for them to partner with us instead!
Pankaj: Besides I also see at least hardware vendors not taking that path for reasons of core competencies and cost overheads.
- Our prices are exorbitant :) OR
- Their purpose is to kill us
So I do not see hardware vendors as threat. But if we talk of other organizations, example service organizations like Sasken or some company in mobile software products domain, I still see some concerns there.
2) How to protect our IP?
Rajiv: In strict terms we do not have an IP. IP's is what the big multinationals have with their know how and thier reference designs. We are attacking their IP by providing the same know how to others free of cost (and charging for support). If we want to compete with them we cannot bank upon our IP as they do. There will be no differentiator otherwise! To beat them at their game we have to play it a bit differently. :)
Our main IP will be our experience, expertise and skills.