Sun sponsors more than 300 community style events in more than 30 countries for Software Freedom Day (SFD) on September 19, 2009. With an emphasis on emerging markets such as India, China, Indonesia and Russia, Sun’s Software Freedom Day events are designed to help developers on all levels to better understand and generate increased involvement in open source technologies.

Using its Open Source University Meetup (OSUM) network, Sun is bringing together more than 25,000 students for student-run events designed to improve awareness around the importance and benefits of open source technologies. At each event, students will have the opportunity to hear from open source experts from local universities, participate in installation demonstrations, while networking with students, professors and developers from their region who are passionate about free and open source technology.

“In the OSUM Community, we believe that students can play a leadership role in promoting the adoption of free software and creating more equal access to opportunities through the use of participatory technologies,” said Gary Serda, Global Manager of Academic Programs and Communities, Sun Microsystems. “Together, through all of our Software Freedom Day events, we are moving the world closer to a new world of opportunity, innovation and freedom for all people.”

Sun is one of the largest corporate supporter of Free and Open Source Software in the world, contributing billions of dollars in developer time, sponsorships and donations, as well as releasing more code under open source licenses than any other organization in the public or private sector. Sun offers several platforms, including MySQL, GlassFish, NetBeans, OpenSolaris, OpenJDK and OpenOffice.or that are supported by vibrant, growing communities, to help foster freedom, innovation and improve the quality of products for businesses.

With more than 100,000 members in 100 countries worldwide, Open-Source University Meet-Up (OSUM) is a student developer organization that educates its members about the latest open-source technologies in a fun and engaging way. Through its on-campus activities, Sun sponsored OSUMs will receive access to technical information that can be shared with OSUM members via technical demonstrations. Additionally, online web courses, through the Sun Academic Initiative program will be available to the OSUM to provide an opportunity to get its members Sun Certified.