UserScape, creators of HelpSpot, have launched opensourcehelpdesklist.com. The directory is a strategic marketing move that addresses an informational gap by promoting open source help desk software.

Open Source Help Desk Software List is a comprehensive repository of open source help desk software. To supplement the lists and brief descriptions, pertinent articles highlight the common support center struggles -- such as understanding software ROI and ITIL optimizing. A few of UserScape's favorite blogs are included to provide an insightful, and sometimes even humorous, look at customer support management from the trenches.

Ian Landsman, President of UserScape, believes this directory will not only serve as a research tool for those in need of an open source help desk solution, but will support the open source community. "We recognize that open source projects -- of all types -- play a vital role in the development community and we believe it's critical to lend our support where we can."

Some may question the move to focus resources on an effort that has the potential to move business away from their product. In response Landsman points out "...this is a vast space (help desk software market) with many customers, all having varying needs…simply put -- there's enough sand in the box for all of us to play." He goes on further to explain the strategic positioning of HelpSpot in this site launch "...our experience has shown open source solutions aren't always the right fit for everyone and should that be the case for those on opensourhelpdesklist.com, we want to be positioned as one of the first option customers turn to."