[via Muniwireless]

Om Malik reports about Vayatta's new Open Source software powered network router. {via CNN Money]:

Vyatta's router is about to go into beta release, and it will likely hit the market this summer. The machine runs on two Intel chips, but far more noteworthy is its software, known as XORP, or extensible open router platform. The versatile open-source application can direct data traffic for a giant corporation as easily as it can manage a home Wi-Fi network.

And that's what makes it as disruptive as a leaf blower in a feather factory: Vyatta's router will cost about a fifth the price of comparable models from big networking equipment makers such as Cisco Systems. "Open-source is providing real competition to the commercial telecom companies," says John Todd, an open-source telephony expert. "It will force them to improve."

Another byproduct of Open Source networking, and it's lower cost and versatility: It will make the technology available to more people. The barrier of entry for people accessing new technology is almost always lowered when Open Source is involved.