IBM, Canonical/Ubuntu, Novell, Red Hat to Deliver Microsoft-Free Desktops Worldwide
- From: Chance Furlong <t-bone@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:10:42 -0500
From Market Watch:
http://tinyurl.com/5bkxd9
Looks like Fat Ass Ballmer will have another reason to throw chairs.
Cuss and discuss, Wintrolls.
IBM, Canonical/Ubuntu, Novell, Red Hat to Deliver Microsoft-Free
Desktops Worldwide
Last update: 3:58 p.m. EDT Aug. 5, 2008
For the first time, IBM and leading Linux distributors Canonical/Ubuntu,
Novell and Red Hat will join forces globally with their hardware
partners to deliver Microsoft-free personal computing choices with Lotus
Notes and Lotus Symphony in the one billion-unit desktop market
worldwide by 2009.
Citing shifting market forces and the growing demand for economical
alternatives to costly Windows and Office-based computers, the four
leaders sense an ideal set of circumstances allowing Linux-based
desktops to proliferate in the coming year. Linux is far more profitable
for a PC vendor and the operating system is better equipped to work with
lower cost hardware than new Microsoft technology.
"The slow adoption of Vista among businesses and budget-conscious CIOs,
coupled with the proven success of a new type of Microsoft-free PC in
every region, provides an extraordinary window of opportunity for
Linux," said Kevin Cavanaugh, vice president for IBM Lotus Software.
"We'll work to unlock the desktop to save our customers money and give
freedom of choice by offering this industry-leading solution."
The four leaders are working with their local business partners in
markets around the world to build and distribute a pre-loaded PC
offering that features IBM's Open Collaboration Client Solution (OCCS) (
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/lotus/library/occs-overview/)
including Lotus Notes, Lotus Symphony and Lotus Sametime; the Linux
operating system of each distributor; and software applications and
installation services from the local partners in each market. The fina
product will be branded by the local IT firms that bring it to market.
In addition, customers, independent software vendors (ISVs) and systems
integrators have the choice of developing applications using Lotus
Expeditor based on the open source Eclipse programming model.
These solutions would be tailored to the needs of customers in specific
industries and sectors. For example, one type of solution for government
buyers may support key ISV applications for document/case management,
crisis management, and citizen services. Another version for Banks would
account for support for virtual thin clients that bring together the
infrastructure and applications along with Lotus social software for
branch bank front office and contact center transformation. The emphasis
for use in schools would be giving students and faculty a low cost open
platform that can capitalize on the strengths of Lotus collaboration and
social software. Understanding of such distinct customer preferences has
been accumulated from customized, local engagements around the world.
"IBM software and Linux on desktop combined is not just a better
price/performance substitute for the Microsoft offering, but it provides
a new platform for customers and business partners to add true value by
creating tailor-made solutions," said Milan Prohaska, General Manager of
Austria-based VDEL. "The combined power of Eclipse and Lotus -- offered
in a stable and secure Linux environment at less then half the cost of
the equivalent Microsoft offering -- will create a new ecosystem for
solution providers and developers, and set new standards in
value-for-the-money for the customers."
IBM and its Linux partners are inspired by the success of this
Linux-based package locally in both established and developing markets.
Austrian IT firm VDEL debuted the first such offering named OpenReferent
in Eastern Europe earlier this year with IBM's OCCS on Red Hat
Enterprise Linux. The reception, particularly in the expansive Russian
market, was very strong. Diverse commercial and government organizations
such as Russia Post (Russian postal service) and Rushotel have piloted
and phased in the new desktops, saving 30-35 percent of the cost of the
Microsoft equivalent. VDEL has extended OpenReferent to include IBM
Tivoli desktop management and security capabilities as well.
"We are pleased with the uptake among customers including enterprises,
governments, small businesses, and partners adopting OCCS powered by Red
Hat's enterprise Linux desktop," said Scott Crenshaw, Vice President,
Platform Business Unit at Red Hat. "Customers are demanding a
Microsoft-less PC, and we have responded with our reliable, secure Linux
solution through our top channel partners worldwide, building on the
success we've seen in Eastern Europe and other markets."
Novell launched a similar solution based on IBM's collaboration software
and SUSE Linux Enterprise with Avnet UK, the largest IT distributor in
the United Kingdom, and its local business partners.
"Novell is excited to partner with IBM to drive desktop innovation and
deliver the open collaboration client solution to enterprises
worldwide," said Roger Levy, Senior Vice President and General Manager
of Open Platform Solutions at Novell. "As the best-engineered and most
interoperable Linux from the desktop to the data center, SUSE Linux
Enterprise is a strong fit for IBM. The unique combination of IBM's
Lotus software powered by SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop enables
enterprises to strengthen security, improve flexibility, and
dramatically lower costs compared to Vista. In addition, deployment is
made very easy with a seamless one-click installation feature."
The popularity of IBM OCCS on each Linux variant has grown dramatically
in the past year. Thousands of people are working today on OCCS-powered
Linux PCs across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. In North
America, public school systems, local governments and IT firms such as
the Government of Quebec Ministry of Service, CSS Corp. and IBM itself
rely on OCCS. In Europe, customers include Radbound University in
Netherlands; Constructora San Jose of Spain; and Dotriver in France,
among others. In the eastern hemisphere, Safran Aerospace of India, SMB
Outsourcing Park of China and Kennards Hire (manufacturing) of Australia
are among the growing legions of MS-free advocates.
Canonical, which sells subscription support for Ubuntu, a Linux
operating system that scores high marks on usability and "the cool
factor," will re-distribute Lotus Symphony via their repositories.
Symphony 1.1 will be available through the Ubuntu repositories by the
end of August. General availability will coincide with the Lotus
Symphony 1.2 release expected to be available by the end of October 2008.
"We are excited about distributing Lotus Symphony from Canonical online
store," said Malcom Yates, Vice President, Canonical. "Open
Collaboration Client Solution powered by Ubuntu that includes Lotus
Notes and Symphony gives us the opportunity to deliver a complete
Microsoft desktop alternative to our customers. We look forward to
working with our hardware partners to expand their solution offerings."
Value Added Distributors (VAD) and resellers will be offering the IBM
Open Collaboration Client Solution to their customers worldwide. For
example more than 12 VADs worldwide are offering OCCS powered by SUSE
Linux Enterprise Desktop from Novell to their resellers. Examples
include Arrow in the US and Avnet in the UK. Some, such as VDEL,
combined OCCS powered by Red Hat with their own applications. Systems
Integrators such as CSScorp offer required services.
.
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