Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the OSGi Alliance?
- What is the shared vision of the OSGi Alliance?
- How can my company join the alliance?
- What are the roles of the OSGi Alliance and OSGi Users' Forum or OSGi Users' Group? How do these organizations cooperate?
- Who should consider becoming a member of the OSGi Alliance and why?
- Who will benefit from the OSGi Services Platform and how?
- What is the OSGi technology in a nutshell?
- What are the licensing terms and conditions of the OSGi Service Platform and what are the licensing costs?
- What role does the non-assert pledge by the OSGi Alliance and leading technology companies play?
- What capabilities does the OSGi Services Platform deliver?
- How does OSGi technology improve the software development process?
- What markets have adopted OSGi technology for their products and solutions?
- There are many residential, automotive, and mobile standards and initiatives. How is the OSGi technology unique?
- What services will be delivered using the OSGi Services Platform?
- Is there a certification procedure for platforms/services?
- Where can I learn more about the technical details of the OSGi Service Platform? How do I get hold of the specification?
- What is the OSGi Specification process?
- Who can become part of the OSGi Specification process?
- What resources are available to software developers who want to learn how to develop services for OSGi Alliance based devices?
- How are OSGi standards & specifications coordinated and harmonized with other standards & the associated standards bodies in the industry?
- How do the technologies produced and standardized by the OSGi Alliance complement and enhance those technologies specified within the Java Community Process (JCP)?
ADOPTER ASSOCIATE FAQs
- What is an adopter associate member of the OSGi Alliance?
- What do adopter associates do?
- What is the difference between Adopter and other membership level(s)?
- How do adopter associates participate in the OSGi specification process?
- How will my company benefit from the new adopter membership level?
- What are the technological advantages of joining as an Adopter Associate?
- What are the marketing advantages of joining as an Adopter Associate?
What is the OSGi Alliance?
The OSGi Alliance is a worldwide consortium of technology innovators that advances a proven and mature process to assure interoperability of applications and services based on its component integration platform. The OSGi Service Platform is delivered in many Fortune Global 100 company products and services.
The alliance provides specifications, reference implementations, test suites and certification to foster a valuable cross-industry ecosystem. Member companies collaborate within an egalitarian, equitable and transparent environment and promote adoption of OSGi technology through business benefits, user experiences and forums.
A full list of OSGi Alliance Members is on the OSGi Alliance Members section of the website.
What is the shared vision of the OSGi Alliance?
To leverage opportunities for new services, value chains and business models enabled by the evolution of the Internet and associated technologies. The alliance envisions a common standard for universal middleware that is applicable in diverse markets across the globe.
The alliance's role in this vision is to create and promote widespread adoption of that common standard, the OSGi Service Platform, to assure interoperability of applications and services delivered and managed via networks.
How can my company join the alliance?
A membership application is available at Join. You can join the OSGi Alliance as either a full or adopter associate member. Each class of membership and the rights, privileges and responsibilities associated with it are detailed at www.osgi.org. For further information contact
What are the roles of the OSGi Alliance and OSGi Users' Forum or OSGi Users' Group? How do these organizations cooperate?
The OSGi Alliance and its Members steer the OSGi Service Platform, its specifications and technology. Many companies join the alliance to enhance OSGi technology for their customers and the industries they serve. For example, Members formed the OSGi Vehicle Expert Group (VEG) to address needs within Automotive Electronics and Transportation industries and formed the OSGi Mobile Expert Group (MEG) to address needs within the Mobile Telecommunications industry.
OSGi Users' Groups, or OSGi Users' Forums, are independent organizations, either formal or informal, whose members adopt and promote the OSGi Service Platform as specified and certified by the OSGi Alliance. The members of these Users' Groups or Forums are often "consumers" or adopters of the OSGi Service Platform, using it as a vital layer of software within the products and applications they build and sell or use internally.
To further its mission for widespread adoption of OSGi technology, the alliance encourages and fosters the formation of synergistic OSGi Users' Forums and Groups. The alliance will assist groups to form and supply qualified speakers for Users' Group meetings.
Who should consider becoming a member of the OSGi Alliance and why?
Any company in a value chain that produces or uses software can benefit from alliance membership. OSGi Alliance members determine how and when the OSGi Service Platform and specifications will be upgraded, expanded and enhanced, which can benefit the production and provisioning of member companies' offerings.
Vertical and cross-industry needs are served through "expert groups" that tailor the platform without compromising the integrity of the OSGi Service Platform architecture. Current expert groups include the Mobile Expert Group, Vehicle Expert Group and Core Platform Expert Group; members propose and establish charters for new EGs.
Only members' software products are qualified for OSGi certification. Certification assures manufacturers and service providers that certified OSGi technology-based components are interoperable, reliable and secure.
For further information, please visit the membership benefits section of the website.
Who will benefit from the OSGi Services Platform and how?
The OSGi Service Platform benefits a wide variety of audiences and communities of interest. Adoption of the component-based platform reduces time-to-market and development costs because it enables integration of pre-built and pre-tested modules. It reduces maintenance costs and provides aftermarket opportunities because networks are used to dynamically update or deliver services and applications in the field.
Since it enables the delivery of multiple services dynamically and on command:
- Service and content providers benefit by creating new recurring revenue streams and reducing the cost of service deployment (e.g. fewer truck rolls).
- Network operators benefit by increasing network usage, enhancing user loyalty and reducing customer churn.
- Manufacturers benefit by extending the application of devices and developing to a common API and framework.
- End users benefit by reducing the cost and complexity of being "connected" while taking advantage of new services in a secure way.
What is the OSGi technology in a nutshell?
The OSGi specifications define an in-VM Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) for networked systems. An OSGi Service Platform provides a standardized, component-oriented computing environment for cooperating networked services. This architecture significantly reduces the overall complexity of building, maintaining and deploying applications.
The OSGi Service Platform provides the functions to change the composition dynamically on the device of a variety of networks, without requiring a restarts. To minimize the coupling, as well as make these couplings managed, the OSGi technology provides a service-oriented architecture that enables these components to dynamically discover each other for collaboration. The OSGi Alliance has developed many standard component interfaces for common functions like HTTP servers, configuration, logging, security, user administration, XML and many more. Plug-compatible implementations of these components can be obtained from different vendors with different optimizations and costs. However, service interfaces can also be developed on a proprietary basis.
What are the licensing terms and conditions of the OSGi Service Platform and what are the licensing costs?
The OSGi Alliance grants a broad, royalty-free license to implementers and users of the OSGi technology as well as a non-assert patent pledge from key members to not enforce patents that are required to implement the specifications. View Specification Licensing.
What role does the non-assert pledge by the OSGi Alliance and leading technology companies play?
While access to the six organizations' OSGi technology-related IP has been generally granted to full alliance members, their decision is notable because it formally extends the same property rights from these corporations to the general public. This joint activity fosters a profitable marketplace for all: it creates interoperability and compatibility and lets companies compete on the superiority and ingenuity of their unique implementations and offerings.
What capabilities does the OSGi Services Platform deliver?
Software Component Management -
The OSGi Framework handles the entire lifecycle management of applications and components. Besides the provision of packaging formats for all sorts of middleware and applications, it also provides fully dynamic lifecycle management.
Remote Component Management -
The OSGi Service Platform is specifically designed for devices that can operate unattended or under control of a platform operator. These are the devices that need remote management. Managing devices remotely can require a multitude of protocols. Therefore, the OSGi Platform has been designed to support all common transfer protocols including but not limited to SNMP, CMISE, CIM, OMA DM, etc.
Secure Execution Environment -
Execution code into a networked device can only be allowed if the device is properly protected. The OSGi specification, therefore, offers a comprehensive, multi level security model. This model is based on standard Java features combined with specific OSGi security features.
Commercial Off The Shelf Components -
A standardized environment has the advantage that many parties can cooperate without extra communications. OSGi member companies like Espial, Makewave, IBM, ProSyst Software, and others already deliver many basic building blocks off the shelf. Collectively, they have implemented virtually every common protocol in existence as an OSGi bundle. The excellent characteristics of the cooperative models allow these vendors to develop small bundles that provide a set of highly cohesive functions that work seamlessly with other bundles.
Simplified Deployment, Interoperability and Dynamic Functionalities -
The technologies provided by the OSGi Alliance significantly simplify the process of deployment. Once an OSGi Service Platform is installed in an environment, deploying applications is smooth because the rigorously specified OSGi Service Platform hides the differences of the underlying environments. Besides that, the OSGi Alliance spent considerable effort to create test specifications that allow interoperability between different implementations in a dynamic framework. One example for the latter is the hot update functionality that allows quick and uncomplicated updates while the system is running.
How does OSGi technology improve the software development process?
OSGi technology provides the standardized primitives that allow applications to be constructed from small, reusable and collaborative components. These components can be composed into an application and deployed. This model significantly reduces software complexity for larger applications.
The OSGi Service Platform provides the functions to change the composition dynamically on the device of a variety of networks, without requiring a restarts. To minimize the coupling, as well as making remaining couplings managed, the OSGi technology provides a service-oriented architecture that enables these components to dynamically discover each other for collaboration.
OSGi technology adopters benefit from improved time-to-market and reduced development costs because OSGi technology provides for the integration of pre-built and pre-tested component subsystems. The technology also reduces maintenance costs and enables unique new aftermarket opportunities because components can be dynamically delivered to devices in the field.
What markets have adopted OSGi technology for their products and solutions?
The OSGi technology is used in a variety of applications. Here are a few examples.
- Enterprise
- Telematics
- Mobile
- Residential Gateways
- White Goods
- Consumer Electronics
There are many residential, automotive, and mobile standards and initiatives. How is the OSGi technology unique?
The OSGi Service Platform is the only standard that does not compete with other standards because it complements most other standards or initiatives currently underway. Instead of competing with other standards, it provides a unified software execution environment that allows virtually any standard to efficiently work with other standards. The OSGi Service Platform is focused on the application layer and open to any protocol, transport or device layers and thus inclusive rather than exclusive. OSGi Service Platform can use any existing Java specification. Where there is a standard that is not Java based, such as Universal Plug and Play, the OSGi Service Platform focuses on bridging all these standards in a consistent fashion.
What services will be delivered using the OSGi Services Platform?
The OSGi specification allows service providers and others to bundle and manage existing telephony, data networking, enterprise applications, desktop programs, and entertainment services, but also enables a whole new set of value-added services (e.g., energy management, telematics, home monitoring and automation, device software enhancements). These services are offered via the Internet, internal enterprise networks, various last-mile broadband connections, and high-speed wireless data networks to the home, car, mobile, device environments, and other computing systems.
The OSGi specification provides the "glue" in this new value chain, through an open, platform-independent framework and APIs, which allows for the dynamic delivery of managed services with secure, scalable and reliable metrics.
Is there a certification procedure for platforms/services?
For more information, including the certified member products, visit the Compliance and Certification Program page.
Where can I learn more about the technical details of the OSGi Service Platform? How do I get hold of the specification?
A first introduction to the OSGi technology can be found in an overview whitepaper. Detailed information about the OSGi Service Platform can be found in the specifications, which can be downloaded from the website.
What is the OSGi Specification process?
Proposed OSGi specifications are developed by an Expert Group comprised of participants from interested OSGi Alliance member companies. After a thorough review by the Expert Group, the proposed specification is submitted to the OSGi Alliance Board of Directors for review and approval. The Board will approve the specification or return it to the EG for additional work. Once approved by the Board, the specification must undergo a minimum 45-day review period by all members. Any necessary patent claims must be identified by members during this time. Following the review period, the OSGi Alliance members vote on approval of the specification. Once approved by a majority of OSGi Alliance members, the specification is ratified. Finally, the OSGi Alliance Board of Directors will make a final decision on public release of the specification.
Who can become part of the OSGi Specification process?
OSGi Alliance members actively direct the OSGi specification process; membership is open to all interested parties. Any OSGi member can join an OSGi Expert Group to contribute to and comment on the OSGi specifications. The OSGi specification and member agreement define the process and terms for participation and contribution to the specification creation process.
What resources are available to software developers who want to learn how to develop services for OSGi Alliance based devices?
In addition to the specifications and the exchange within the expert groups and on the OSGi Web Site blog, software developers can use Service Platform Developer Kits and/or attend training programs offered by members of the OSGi Alliance (see also the Products page). An additional resource will be the OSGi Bundle Repository (OBR) that is available on the OSGi Web Site.
How are OSGi standards & specifications coordinated and harmonized with other standards & the associated standards bodies in the industry?
The OSGi Liaison Executive Committee has the primary responsibility for establishing working liaisons with external organizations such as other industry consortia (e.g., the Open Mobile Alliance). The current chairperson of the OSGi Liaison Executive Committee, and the director of operations are posted on the OSGi Board and Officers web page - along with other Board members and Officers - and may be contacted if an organization wishes a liaison relationship with the OSGi Alliance. Liaisons may be formal or informal, and may range from simple marketing cross-endorsements to more involved relationships, which may include sharing select intellectual property with negotiated terms and conditions with the goal of coordinating and harmonizing the technologies of both parties.
The working members of the OSGi Alliance represent many of the world's top technology organizations and technologists who are experts in their field. Members continually survey relevant external standards and specifications and strive to coordinate and harmonize important and relevant standards with the OSGi Alliance through formal and informal means, while always respecting applicable intellectual property rights.
How do the technologies produced and standardized by the OSGi Alliance complement and enhance those technologies specified within the Java Community Process (JCP)?
The OSGi Alliance like other important industry groups, such as the Apache Software Foundation and the Parlay Group, have worked with Sun Microsystems and the Java Community Process to develop open standards which provide a richer environment to the entire development and user community for the Java language. Sun Microsystems is a founding member of the OSGi Alliance, provided our initial Chairperson for the OSGi Expert Group that wrote our first ever Specification Release, and has had representation on the OSGi Board of Directors for most of the Alliance's existence.
The OSGi Alliance is now working within its Mobile Expert Group (MEG) to develop an advanced mobile platform for use in state-of-the-art digital mobile telephones in close cooperation and coordination with JCP Java Specification Request 232 (JSR-232). This is just another example of the OSGi Alliance working with other industry organizations to build better open technologies for the communities we all serve.
ADOPTER ASSOCIATE FAQs
What is an adopter associate member of the OSGi Alliance?
Adopter associates are active alliance members who participate in alliance activities and events, and influence specification developments, helping to shape the future of OSGi technology for their implementations and the industry at large.
What do adopter associates do?
Adopter associates participate in member meetings, committees and optional developers' forums, helping to shape the future of the OSGi standard.
What is the difference between Adopter and Full membership levels?
Adopter associate membership enables more companies to influence and benefit from OSGi technology and membership. Adopters can submit specification recommendations while full members determine and directly develop OSGi specifications.
How do adopter associates participate in the OSGi specification process?
Associate members make suggestions for and gain early access to the OSGi specifications for service providers, network operators, ISPs, automotive and consumer electronics, communications, and computer companies.
How will my company benefit from the new adopter membership level?
Adopters gain a competitive edge with early access to new OSGi specifications, shape future OSGi specifications to fuel new markets and revenue streams, and increase company visibility via the bundle repository, posts and cross-marketing with the alliance.
What are the technological advantages of joining as an Adopter Associate?
Work with many other companies on specification development, earning early access to new specifications that give your company a competitive edge since OSGi technology shortens time to market and reduces development costs. Adopter associates are also eligible to certify specification implementations.
What are the marketing advantages of joining as an Adopter Associate?
Marketing advantages include an increased chance of being first to market with products and services, early discovery of emerging business opportunities and new markets, networking opportunities with other members, participation in OSGi press releases, newsletters, events and case studies.