Date: Wed, 01 Sep 1999 13:20:03 -0700
Subject: Linuxcare-Laser5 partnership
To: lwn@lwn.net


LINUXCARE ADDS LASER5 LINUX TO ROSTER OF SUPPORTED LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS

Initiative Brings Global, Enterprise-Class Technical Services to Popular
Japanese Linux Distribution

SAN FRANCISCO, USA and TOKYO, JAPAN, September 1, 1999-Linuxcare, Inc., the
first company to provide comprehensive Linux technical services to the
Global 1000, announced today that it had added LASER5 Linux to its lineup
of fully supported Linux distributions.

"LASER5 has a proven track record of providing technically superb Linux
software for the Japanese market," said Jay Powell, Asia Pacific Business
Development Manager for Linuxcare. "Linuxcare is dedicated to delivering
breakthrough support solutions for enterprise customers using Linux. We
look forward to working closely with LASER5 to ensure the best possible
customer experience with LASER5 Linux."

"We're pleased that Linuxcare will offer industry-leading support services
for LASER5 Linux 6.0," said Toshiyuki Kubota, Chief Executive Officer of
LASER5. "We share the same values as Linuxcare-Japanese customers deserve
the highest quality Linux software crafted to meet their needs, and they
must have access to the best possible technical support. This arrangement
will give LASER5's customers the assurance that enterprise-class Linux
technical support is available to them."

Linuxcare now includes LASER5 Linux 6.0 in its comprehensive suite of
commercial support services, including email, Web, and 24x7 telephone
support. Linuxcare signaled its growing commitment to the Japanese market
in July, when the company announced a high-level technical service
agreement with DTTS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Co. Ltd.

In addition to technical support, Linuxcare offers a full range of
professional services such as Open Source technology consulting, software
engineering, and systems management; Linuxcare University, the leading
distribution-neutral Linux education program; and Linuxcare Labs, the first
program to test compatibility and benchmark the performance of hardware and
software against the Linux kernel. Linuxcare supports all major Linux
distributions including regional leaders such as Red Hat and Caldera in the
U.S., SuSE in Germany, and others.

LASER5 has established itself as a leading distributor of Linux in Japan,
shipping over one million copies of the popular Open Source operating
system since 1993. LASER5 has earned acclaim for its focus on technical
excellence and unwavering commitment to the unique requirements of the
Japanese market.

About Linuxcare, Inc.
Linuxcare, Inc. is the first company to provide a complete solution for
Linux technical support, consulting, education, and product certification
for Global 1000 companies. Linuxcare supports all major distributions of
Linux on all major platforms, offering a variety of programs including 24x7
enterprise-class telephone support. With funding from Kleiner Perkins and
others, Linuxcare counts IBM and Dell Computer among its strategic
partners. The company hosts www.linuxcare.com, the world's leading online
technical-support resource for Linux. Founded in 1998, Linuxcare is
headquartered in San Francisco, Calif. The company can be reached at
888-LIN-GURU (+01-415-354-4878) and at www.linuxcare.com. Japanese
information regarding Linuxcare services is now available through
jpinfo@linuxcare.com.

About LASER5
LASER5 was established as an independent company in August 1999 by
Itsutsubashi Research Co., Ltd., a recognized leader in the growing
Japanese market for Linux and Open Source solutions. LASER5's charter is to
develop and distribute technically excellent Linux operating system
software tuned to the unique requirements of the Japanese market. Founded
in 1993, the operating system division of Itsutsubashi, now LASER5, has
shipped over one million copies of Linux.  ###

Linuxcare and the Linuxcare logo are service marks, and "At the center of
Linux" is a trademark of Linuxcare, Inc. Linux is a registered trademark of
Linus Torvalds. All other trademarks are acknowledged.