Jobs beats Gates as most important man in tech

Embracing open source for Apple's latest OS, the success of the iPod and proving, with iTunes, that there is a model for selling music online have helped Steve Jobs beat his old rival Bill Gates to be named silicon.com's number one Agenda Setter for 2003.

A panel of experts decided the annual poll by voting on three factors - global influence, decision-making prowess and longevity - and past winners include Sir Christopher Gent (2000), Steve Case (2001) and Rupert Murdoch (2002).

But while major themes in the balance of power emerge each year, such as media bosses last time around and mobile players the year before that, this year's top 50 wasn't dominated only by those at the helm of famous vendors such as Apple and Microsoft.

'Free spirits' - those using open source software to make a difference or rejecting traditional profit motives - are making a difference, as seen by the presence of Linus Torvalds at number 5 and the mayor of Munich - a man whose municipality turned down Microsoft for Linux - at 20. (A full analysis of their influence can be found here.)

Meanwhile, there is an increased emphasis on service delivery over technology itself. This is borne out in the exclusion of the CEOs of well-known companies such as Cisco, Intel and Nokia and the presence of figures such as UK OGC's Peter Gershon, NHS IT tsar Richard Granger, Capita's Rod Aldridge at 26 and even India PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at 8. (Full analysis here.)

And while it may seem there are some pretty parochial characters included, it was apparent they won votes for setting agendas the rest of the world will follow. So we have the inclusion of BT CEO Ben Verwaayen at 25 - the assumption being other telcos will follow his model for recovery - and Stephen Carter, soon to head up new super-regulator Ofcom, at 18, given the rest of Europe and North America are watching closely to see how that experiment works out.

Finally a word for entrepreneurs. While the dot-com boom may seem a long time ago now, this year sees the inclusion of new and old business creators, the likes of easyGroup's Stelios Haji-Ioannou at 27, Jeff Bezos - on for a fourth consecutive year - at 32, salesforce.com's Marc Benioff at 38 and Stephen Hill, Betfair at 41.

A full list of the 50 Agenda Setters for 2003 and extended analysis and biographies, plus details on those experts sitting in judgement, can be found here.