The Linux Foundation, the non-profit that supports the growth of the Linux kernel, is today announcing an affinity Visa Platinum credit card for people who want to contribute to advancing the OS through the organization’s initiatives. Reading the press release announcing the new credit card made me raise my eyebrows, but after giving it a bit of thought I think that this is actually not that bad an idea.
Jim Zemlin, executive director of The Linux Foundation in a statement says people can contribute to Linux in a variety of ways (writing code, marketing, etc.) but now have a convenient way of identifying themselves as supporters of the community “by carrying Tux in their pocket”. And then of course there’s the financial incentive.
The Linux Foundation is partnering with CardPartner to offer the credit card through UMB Bank. The organization will receive $50 for every activated card as well as a percentage of every purchase made with the credit card. The Linux Foundation also says 100% of the proceeds from the Visa card program will go directly towards providing community technical events and travel grants for open source community members in order to accelerate Linux innovation.
Initially, the custom Linux Foundation Visa Platinum card is only available to U.S. residents, but the organization expects to expand in the coming months. You can apply here.
Linus must be glowing with pride.
Update: there’s also LinuxFund.org, which looks similar and has been around since 1999.
This is awesome. Getting one ASAP.
yep searching for the links to signup!
Are you nuts? Doing deals with banksters who are complete opposite of EVERYTHING Linux stands for? It’s a disgrace.
Now Linux Foundation is going to make money on people who are in debt? That’s SICK!!! It makes me want to vomit.
If I see anyone with this stupid card I’m going to kick him in the nuts and never speak to him again. It’s the definition of hypocrisy.
How could Linux Foundation agree to this? Are they already infiltrated by corporate shills?
Just because you use a CC doesn’t mean you are in debt..
Yeah? And how do you think they make their money? By nice pictures of Tux and positive chi energy sent their way? Get a clue *sigh*
This is very cool. I wonder what the terms are. lol.
This is a very interesting new revenue stream for Linux. Plus its even a Platinum. Who is going to bring out a credit card next, Paypal??
Uh…[Search Google for more information.]
Unless that was sarcasm, in which case: Huzzah!
Yeah, revenue stream which breaks every principle Linux stands for along the way. They could also rob people on the street, that would be great revenue stream too. Fools.
This would be totally awesome!
2+ wondering what the terms are.
Hehehe, this is very geeky.
it also nice branding for the Tux
Geeky? Sure, look at the picture on a plastic card, never mind the immoral, destructive concept behind it. As long as it’s “geeky”, right?
Is TechCrunch made up of 13 year old kids or what?
Why is a credit card immoral? If an adult wants a line of credit, then who the hell are you to judge? As to the principles behind open source, there isnt much beyond “respect other people’s code, contribute what you like.”
I want one!
I’m with Mohammed, this is like an instant geek card..
I love it. Sign me up!
Very interesting news
Ultimate Credit Card for Geeks… !!
Wish i could have one…
coool!
Dude! That’s awesome! Gotta get one now!
Here’s an idea! All credit cards should be customizable!
Interesting initiative, but what’s next? Ubuntu, FC, Suse branded cards
Anyway for now it’s only U.S. , so the rest of us will have to wait for this…if they will decide to extend to Europe or Asia
Don’t you get it? This is not simply branded card, it’s a partnership. They’re destroying the principles on which the Linux and free-software philosophy is based on. This is betraying the very core of ideology of freedom.
It’s not voluntary donations and enthusiasts who are driving Linux Foundation anymore but people in debt! Poor people who don’t have enough money to pay off their debt are paying for my Linux!? Thanks, no thanks.
The Linux Foundation should be flamed for this HARD. This is completely sick and immoral. I’m not going to support LF anymore because of this, they’re obviously becoming corrupt.
FInally greeks making the mark in the financial industry……………sign me up.
Kalimera!
Or more like finally financial industry infiltrating the Linux community and subverting it to support their corrupt practices. Yay!
You clearly have issues, but don’t let that stop you from hijacking comments. Actually, let it.
Sure I have issues with this and I can’t understand how people can not see what this really means.
Look at the comment section, it’s like in kindergarden … wooo, Tux cool let’s get it. I mean, seriously?
It’s actually mind-boggling. Why would you support such a thing in your article. Do you not care about HOW they make their money?
Aren’t the principles of freedom at the core of free-software philosophy which is responsible for it’s success?
Doing deals with CC companies that piss all over those principles, don’t you see anything slightly hypocritical in that? LF may well make a deal with Microsoft next to include their proprietary code in Linux kernel. That would be almost the same thing.
(Sorry for the language)
Just think about it, I’m serious. And I apologize if I get too heated but this pisses me off to no end, no offense intended.
Its really cool……
Yesss lets get all the programmers in debt now too!! That’ll make you a TRUE linux supporter
You think that credit cards get people in debt? News flash for you – people get themselves in debt. a small square of plastic can’t get you in debt.
lol…. really? how do you think credit card companies make their money? by you paying bills on time? no, its by the people who pay late and get finance charges.
finance 101 babygurl read up on it.
Mike,
I have a hard time believing that any adults don’t have credit cards except hippies. And hippies aren’t techies – you kind of need to go to college to actually be an engineer and I don’t know that hippies condone electrical engineering degrees.
And what percentage of programmers are linux based for enterprise applications? Still a minority – Solaris doesn’t exactly count
“I have a hard time believing that any adults don’t have credit cards except hippies.”
Yeah, that’s why there is an economic crisis because of those fools. Shred all your credit cards, it’s a scam. Linux supported scam as of now.
I’ve not had a CC in 5+ years.
My nephew at 24 has never had a CC and has been through college without any loans of any kind. Scholarships and hard work to fund it.
He’s starting his career as an electrical engineer. He has savings and can decide what job he wants to take rather than a job he has to work to ‘pay the bills’.
Yes, that’s right. They make money off people who don’t have discipline and financial common sense.
No problem, there are plenty of people like you who look to others to explain the outcomes in their lives. “The big bad credit card companies’ are responsible for my personal debt”.
****ing joke. Grow a pair.
How do you think they make their money? This is not about personal responsibility, it’s coldly calculated and the moment people would pay it on time, pufff and credit cards are gone!
The sole purpose of CC is to lure people into debt to make money, that’s their purpose! That’s why they were created so don’t try that BS.
Good idea indeed. On the same lines we can have other variants like LAMP, Drupal based implementation providing ecommerce services can earn something for Linux per transaction.
I hope they make this card available worldwide. I would have loved to use this.
Finally!! finally!
Get a life people… its a stupid credit card.
And I suppose the money that goes to the Linux Foundation is just Monopoly money?
The exuberance is not the card itself, it’s the concept of donating to a meaningful cause in a meaningful way.
unfortunately, the part where you pay your credit card bills is setup to be slightly inconvenient, in a deceitful way almost because you dont notice it, so that the likelihood of you paying late increases — thats when you get hit by finance charges and late payment fees. thats credit cards make their money guys dont forget. just saying be careful
And what prevents you to contribute to meaningful cause without paying banksters for the priviledge?
In a meaningful way? bwahaha
If you can’t manage your debt, go to a counselor.
I do contribute directly to open source. I also use a credit card for daily purchases, and pay it off every month. It currently racks up airline miles. This would be a hell of a lot more ‘meaningful’ than stupid miles on a bankrupt airline.
I love all of the damn financial advisers in here. Credit card companies HATE people who pay on time. We cost them money. The icing on that cake would be to redirect those losses into open source.
Win!
You’re so shortsighted. The moment you god forbid loose your job, have unexpected expanses, some accident happens … BAM! And they have you with their usury rates in a cycle of debt. They’re feeding on human misery you fool.
Your “advise” is like telling people to go to casino to gamble. Look, I have managed to win every time so far. The catch is, long term – you lose all the time. That’s the scam with a twist that you’re gambling with your life. Good luck with that!
Get Real…
“You’re so shortsighted. The moment you god forbid loose your job, have unexpected expanses, some accident happens … BAM! And they have you with their usury rates in a cycle of debt. They’re feeding on human misery you fool.”
The problem isn’t credit cards in the scenario you’ve presented. It’s a lack of saving… Yes, you must have discipline and self-control if you wanna be a grown-up.
The Linux Fund has had this for many years. I’m not sure how well it’s working for them. http://www.linuxfund.org/
They say it’s raised over $500,000. What a deal!
This isn’t cool at all. Checked the terms and conditions and the APR is over 11%.
Yeah, 11% is not so great. It’s ok if you pay it off every month, though.
most dont =(
linux will get ppl in debt
Linux is now tricking people to go bankrupt because of a tux image on a plastic card. A lot of people are not going to like Tux very much very soon
will it be avalable in India ??
I’d take a Windows 7 credit card
Yes, the initiative is not very bad at all. It makes it so easy for open source community to support Linux.
When do I get mine here in Europe?
Great initiative indeed. We could also impose a Linux tax on all people and if they wouldn’t pay take their houses or put them in prison.
Oh wait, we already are kind of doing that though these cards, never mind.
It makes it so easy for open source community to support Linux
Tax would be even better, it would make it so easy to support Linux … maybe some day.
Is everyone’s credit card number binary?
1001 0011 1100 1010
Interesting – I used to have one of these cards years ago, then they canned it for some reason. Nice to see it return.
Ouch!
1 The Penalty APR applies to accounts in which payment is more than 30 days past due. The Penalty APR will apply until your payment history has been satisfactory for 6 consecutive monthly Billing Periods.
This is what Linux Foundation is officially supporting now. Sad day for free-software and the worldwide community
That’s cool!
I’ll get mine as soon as it’s available here in Brazil.
Bad thing, it can only be swiped on Linux run readers :p
Branded credit cards aren’t exactly new. I seem to recall a European company called DubLi launched its own cards which could be won. Anyway, they had $10,000 on them that the lucky winner could spend, and DubLi would give a charity another $10,000 card.
I thought that was a pretty cool thing to do.
Anyone found details on the point mileage and reward program?
I am trying to compare this this to my other cards.
I think I am going to apply for this one.
http://bsdfund.org/card/
BSD too? Get away from my Linux you greedy bastards!
“for people who want to contribute to advancing the OS through the organization’s initiatives.”
If I want to contribute I’m going to donate you sick bastards. Without the need to be in a debt and give a share to banksters to do it.
Do you know anybody who would want to be in debt not able to pay it off to “support Linux”. Are you out of your minds? What’s wrong with you people!?
Get Real,
I have ZERO credit card debt yet charge over $1000 a month. I pay my card off every month, but get the benefit of pseudo-overdraft protection, buyer protection, free car rental insurance, and my bank account is protected from fraud. If you can use credit wisely its not a disease. Many can’t, and for those they should not get any credit card.
I’m considering this card because what I’m doing already, buying things on a credit card, suddenly starts help fund Linux. I change ZERO behavior, except now the Linux Foundation gets cash every time I buy a burger or put gas in my tank (plus the initial $50 bounty for the first purchase).
Your complaints will actually drive people to use this product. It makes people like me create compelling arguments that may entice someone who ISN’T good with credit to get the card anyway. Congratulations, you’ve become exactly what you set out to prevent.
I’m definitely gonna be looking into this. Linux and CC just don’t seem to walk hand in hand if ya know what I mean..
My bets bud is a mad Linux user has completely swore of anything Microsoft or Apple for a simpler and of course free type of life. haha.
He’s gonna freak when he reads this.
This one looks pretty decent. May be you need to compare it with others in the market to get a better idea about it.
“community technical events and travel grants for open source community members”
Sounds like a sweet deal for those that benefit…not so sure it’s the best way of accelerating Linux innovation.
Interesting that Serverside are so aggressive about IPR…I wonder how that sits with the LF…money is money I guess, and nothing is sacred…
Shameless plug from the group behind the Linux Foundation Credit Card…
Linux just set a record for number of applications, and we love them for it. Consider launching your own program. We can accommodate groups of virtually any size and welcome your inquiry. Visit cardpartner.com to learn more or contact us.
I am going to buy…
I’m considering this card. Their rewards program looks decent (i.e. $50 Account credit after $5000 spent). Which is a heck of alot better than my current Bank of America card.
If anyone uses UMB now, can you tell me if you can do “pull” payments from non UMB checking accounts? This would be where you issue a payment from UMB and it pulls from a non-UMB checking account. I’ve had problems in the past with “push” where you do a billpay from your bank
Ich werde mir auch eine kaufen =)
I’m buying … it’s the coolest credit card ever plus it’s helping the cause