Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 15:14:06 -0700 (PDT)
From: Peigi Cleminshaw <peigi@suse.com>
To: releases@internetwire.com
Subject: [press] Release from SuSE Inc:


   Linux Internationalization Initiative makes Draft Globalization
        Specification available for public review

Tokyo, Japan -- May 11, 2000, Linux Internationalization Initiative
(Li18nux) announced today that the LI18NUX2000 draft Globalization
specification is now available on the LI18NUX Web site
(http://www.li18nux.net) for public review.

The LI18NUX2000 specification includes the best of Globalization
functionality that commercial UNIX systems have successfully
implemented. By conforming to the LI18NUX2000 specification,
application programmers will benefit from UNICODE-based multi-lingual
capabilities in a portable manner across Linux distributions and UNIX
systems.

"Since the LI18NUX2000 v1 specification, targeted to be available in
August 2000, relies only proven and well-defined internationalization
technologies, we believe that Linux distributions who
confirm to the specification can release internationalized versions within
this year," said Akio Kido, Co-chair for Asia Pacific Region.

This effort has been endorsed by the following LI18NUX member organizations:

DigitalFactory, Project BLUE, Oracle, TurboLinux, Red Hat Software,
    Hitachi, IBM, Fujitsu, Compaq Computer, NEC, Tokyo Linux User Group,
    SGI, Internet Language Corporation, Translation.net, MetroLink,
    Japan PPC User Group, LASER5, Mistubish Electric Corp., Digital Design,
    Aquarium Computer, Sun Microsystems, Neonagy, Caldera, SuSE,
    Japan Linux Association, Omron Software

About Li18nux:

Li18nux is a voluntary working group, consisting of Linux and Open Source
related contributors who are working on Globalization, a combination of
Internationalization and Localization. The organization was formed in
August 1999. The ultimate goal of the organization is to achieve
software/application portability and interoperability in the International
context for Linux and other open source projects. Its activities are
focused on the internationalization of a core set of APIs and components of
Linux distributions to achieve a common Linux environment. This will allow
an internationalized Linux application to be executed regardless of
different flavor of distributions are used. The results of the working
group will be open to everyone, and be proposed for adoption to the
Free Standards Group (http://www.freestandards.org).

---------------- Attachment -----------------------------------------
Digital Factory and Kondara Project support the activity of LI18NUX and
hope to contribute to it by positively taking part in the activity.

We support the LI18NUX2000 draft Globalization specification, and we will
do our best to release a distribution in conformity to it.
In respect of the outcomes of our effort, we hope to share it with the
open source community.

--------------

"TurboLinux is proud to host the LI18NUX web site and participate in such a
critical project for Linux," said John Terpstra, vice president community
relations, TurboLinux. "Internationalization has long been a strong point
for our distribution with our early focus on the Japanese and Chinese Linux
markets."

--------------

"Tokyo Linux Users Group (TLUG)

We welcome with applauses the release of the LI18NUX2000 Globalization
Draft Specification, that clearly represents the fruit of cooperative
efforts among Linux users, developers, distributors and vendors
participating in the Li18nux initiative. TLUG is pleased to endorse the
specification, hoping that it will help to widespread the worldwide usage of
the Linux operating system through its globalization. "

--------------

Red Hat, Inc. is commited to Linux internationalization. We are
actively participating inLI18NUX activities. We have been investing
engineering resources in internationalization of glibc 2.2, which is
core part of Linux internationalization effort. We are planning to make
our flagship Linux product conform to LI18NUX 2000 specification as soon
as it is officially announced.
 "One of the great strengths of the open source software development
model is that local engineers have been able to customize these
technologies to best serve their local market needs.
Coordinating these efforts will ensure these "localized" versions
also offer the ability use application software interchangeably with
Linux users anywhere else on the planet."

Michale Tiemann, CTO, Red Hat, Inc.

-----------------------

SGI has been a strong supporter of Unix standards and open source
movement.  The LI18NUX2000 Globalization specification is a step forward
in achieving standardization of the Linux OS, which should benefit all
developers as well as institutions.

-------------------------

We endorse the Linux Internationalization project.  We support its
development and believe in the future of internationalized linux
applications!

Beverly Corwin, CTO
Internet Language Corporation

---------------------------

Open source code and internationalization are two things I belive in and I
am pleased to endorse the efforts of the Linux Internationalization
Initiative.

The work they have done will ease the job for linux users worlwide.
sincerely,

Kenneth Tomkins
President,  Internet Language Company, Translation.net

---------------------------

"The internationalization of Linux is a huge undertaking, but it is
essential in order to support Asian languages and other multi-byte
character sets. This will enable Linux to fully propagate worldwide,"
said Morgan Von Essen, Metro Link CEO and President.

---------------------------

Minoru Shibamiya, executive general manager of the Software Development
Division, Hitachi Ltd., said, "We are delighted about the public review of
the international specification LI18NUX2000 because the internationalization
of Linux applications is important for the growth of Linux. Hitachi Ltd.
will hereafter support the activities of the Linux Internationalization
Initiative and contribute to the growth of the Linux market."

---------------------------

Project BLUE
Project BLUE welcomes an announcement LI18NUX starts a public review
of a draft LI18NUX2000 specification.
Using Linux for bussiness systems, I18N of the application is very important
issue. We believe a LI18NUX2000 specification will solve that issue, and we
will support LI18NUX.

Project BLUE is Business Linux Users Encouragement project.
http://www.blue.gr.jp/ (Japanese Only)

-------------------------

Oracle Corporation Japan declares its support for the LI18NUX2000
specification by Linux Internationalization Initiative this time.
Oracle Japan believes that the establishment of this specification will
deliver easy generation of international applications, and thus, further
promote development of open market with Linux.

Receiving investments from Oracle Japan and scheduling to start its
business on June 1, 2000, Miracle Linux Corporation is planning to
support LI18NUX2000 specification in its Linux OS, "Miracle Linux."

----------------------------

Japan PPC Linux Users Group (JPLUG)

We truly appreciate as well as praise the activity of LI18NUX.
JPLUG, as one of LI18NUX members, would like to strongly propose
the LI18NUX2000 specs to PPC Linux and keep our active endorsement and
cooperation to Linux Internationalization Initiative from now on.

-----------------------

We are very pleased with the progress in the internationalization of Linux
as reflected in the exhibits by LI18NUX to day of LinuxWorld Expo/Tokyo
2000.

Fujitsu Limited will continue to support and contribute to the development
of a Linux platform truly fit for business use.

Jiro Ishizaki
Fujitsu Limited,Fujitsu Linux Center

------------------------
NEC believes that any activities to define the "LI18NUX2000 Globalization
Specification" will give great advantage for all of us -- Linux users,
developers and SIers -- and will be driving force for Linux. NEC will
support LI18NUX and contribute development of future Linux market.

General Manager, Yukio Yamazaki
MARKETING DIVISION, NEC Solutions
NEC

------------------------

LASER5 Co. Ltd. would like to express a great respect to the fact that the
volunteer members of Linux Internationalize Initiative(Li18nux) have been
archieved internationalization of Linux steadily by the open source basis.
We endorse that the work progresses, and it will reach a new development
stage. We have done the translation to Japanese of several hundreds
thousand words of help messages and made it to public and more.
Thus we would like to continue to support the work of Li18nux as well as
possible.

Toshiyuki Kubota, CEO, LASER5 Co., Ltd.

------------------------ 

SuSE Inc. strongly supports Li18nux's globalization standards for Linux.   

Volker Wiegand, President, SuSE Inc.