Robert Cringely's recent column Lean and Mean: 150,000 U.S. layoffs for IBM? says that IBM plans drastic downsizing in the U.S., expecially in the global services division, and that it plans to axe unprofitable customers as well as employees.

I am curious as to what this means for support for the FOSS movement. IBM has been the major financial force in moving FOSS from a hackers' playground to a serious commercial factor. If the reorganization involves a slackening of this support, then the effect could be tectonic, because others -- providers, programmers, and users -- who have been riding on IBM would have to begin paying their full share.

On the other hand, IBM could be figuring that off-shore programmers can handle the support for FOSS programs that were originally created by programmers in the U.S., so it can now dispense with the U.S. programmers. See ya, guys -- and thanks, suckers.