Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2000 18:14:20 +0300
Subject: SOT opens office in US and goes to Comdex in Fall
From: "SOT Finnish Software Engineering Ltd." <pr@sot.com>
To: lwn@lwn.net


For immediate release.

SOT OPENS OFFICE IN USA AND PARTICIPATES IN NOVEMBER
COMDEX LINUX BUSINESS EXPO 

Technology Center Hermia, Tampere, Finland - October 4, 2000

SOT, publisher of the #1 Linux in Finland - the home country of Linux
and Linus - is establishing a distribution office for Best Linux in
the USA in response to growing demand. SOT is participating in the
Comdex Linux Business Expo in Las Vegas 13-17, November 2000 to
introduce Best Linux to the US market.

The Best Linux US sales office has been established in Minneapolis
and is operated by Mr. Darren Finnamore and Mr. John Gruss.
Mr. Finnamore and Mr. Gruss have years of Linux Marketplace
experience having worked for Frank Kasper & Associates and
LinuxMall.com, Mr. Finnamore from 1992 and Mr. Gruss from 1993.

"In my previous position at LinuxMall.com - a leading online Linux
shopping center - I have seen and used many Linux distributions. 
And I have to say, that I have been impressed by how easy it is to
install and use Best Linux." said Mr. Gruss.

"We are thrilled to be working with SOT and the entire Best Linux
team. The opportunity to develop the Best Linux sales channel
throughout the world is extremely exciting. In a very short period
of time Best Linux has grown to become the market leader in its home 
country of Finland. Now we are looking to further advance the market 
reach of Best Linux by introducing it to channels in the US and
around the world". commented Mr. Finnamore.

Mr. Santeri Kannisto, CTO of SOT said that "Thanks to excellent 
recent reviews there is great demand from the US market. I believe
this new office will make our relations with US based Linux User 
Groups, volunteers and end users better than they ever could be if
we had just stayed in Finland and Scandinavia."

The current version of SOT's Linux distribution is Best Linux 2000,
which recently received a full 5-penguin rating in a Linuxberg/Tucows
review.  SOT is fully committed to the continued improvement of Linux
for both desktop and server applications.


About Linux

Linux is a virus-free, co-operatively developed operating system 
used worldwide. It was started by Mr. Linus Torvalds in Finland 
in 1991. Applications of Linux vary from desktop use to fully 
functional UNIX workstations and Internet servers. The difference 
between Linux and other operating systems is that Linux is Open 
Source software. Best Linux is developed and maintained under 
GPL license and is available on the Internet with source code
free of charge.


About SOT Finnish Software Engineering Ltd.

Founded in 1991, SOT is based in Finland, where it makes the Best 
Linux distribution. SOT counts among it's customers several of
Finland's largest companies. Working in cooperation with a global
team of research, academic, commercial and volunteer software
developers over the Internet, SOT's goal is to build an easier, more 
advanced distribution of the Linux operating system that is suitable 
for desktop and server applications. Along with the operating 
system SOT offers Linux training, commercial support and 
consulting services to customers exploiting the power of Linux. 
SOT's own hardware manufacturing operations in Tampere, Finland 
enable it to provide complete ready-to-use Linux based solutions.


LINUX is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. Best Linux is a registered
trademark of SOT. All other names and trademarks are the property of 
their respective owners.


Reviews encouraged.


Additional information:

Best Linux      http://bestlinux.net
                http://bestlinux.org
SOT             http://www.sot.com

Contact         Mr. Santeri Kannisto
                telephone +358 400 833 982
                fax +358 401 833 982
                email sk@sot.com

                SOT Finnish Software Engineering Ltd.
                Hermiankatu 8 E
                FIN-33720 TAMPERE
                Finland

                Mr. Darren Finnamore
                telephone +1 952 947 0822
                fax +1 952-947-0876
                email df@sot.com

                SOT Finnish Software Engineering Ltd.
                6975 Washington Ave. S.
                Suite #210
                Edina, MN 55439
                USA

Press samples   Mr. Erno Rasanen
                telephone +358 400 509 775
                e-mail er@sot.com



Mr. Erno Rasanen

SOT Finnish Software Engineering Ltd.
Hermiankatu 8E
FIN-33720  TAMPERE
Finland

Telephone +358 3 316 5544
(direct) +358 3 316 5922
fax +358 3 316 5959
mobile phone +358 400 509775
mobile fax +358 401 509775

e-mail Erno.Rasanen@sot.com