See also: last week's Commerce page.

Linux and Business

SUN delivers GNOME 1.4. Sun Microsystems released GNOME 1.4 for Solaris for both the Intel and Sparc architectures. The GNOME 1.4 Desktop package includes Nautilus, GNOME-VFS, Bonobo and GConf. This is an unsupported version serving as a prelude to GNOME 2.x.

Sun sees a great future for GNOME on the Solaris desktop, according to this paper.

netbeans.org expands open source tools. Sun Microsystems also announced that the NetBeans open source project has added more than a dozen additional modules into its open source code base.

VA Linux posts third-quarter loss. VA Linux reported revenue of $20.3 million for its third fiscal quarter, 2001. The company reported revenue of $34.6 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2000. Net loss for the quarter, on a pro forma basis, excluding non-cash and non-recurring charges, was ($0.38) per share.

"The difficult current market environment has significantly impacted our financial results," said VA Linux Systems CEO Larry M. Augustin. "The market is very challenging and the competitive environment is very aggressive. Our focus is on ensuring that we come out of this slowdown strong and well positioned to resume growth. We are balancing cost reductions and management structure improvements with the introduction of exciting new products and services. We have a strong cash position and are confident that we will successfully navigate the current business conditions."

Synplicity Announces Support for Linux. Synplicity announced it plans to add support for the Linux operating system to its entire portfolio of semiconductor design and verification products.

Great Bridge Lays Off Five Employees. Great Bridge, which offers commercial versions of the PostgreSQL database, has laid off five people, mostly in technical support roles, but has no plans for further layoffs and actually expects to continue hiring sales and engineering staff.

LPI-News, May 2001. The Linux Professional Institute has posted its summary of news from the Linux certification arena.

Mundie round 2. Last week, we said no more Mundie, but there was a deafening clamor among our readers for more Craig Mundie material. Well, maybe not, but here's a followup piece in ZDNet with more of his wisdom:

When comparing the commercial software model to the open-source software model, look carefully at the business plans and licensing structures that form their foundations. This comparison leads to the conclusion that the commercial software model alone has the capacity for sustaining real economic growth. Intellectual capital has always been, and will remain, the core asset of the software industry, and of almost every other industry. Preserving that capital--and investing in its constant renewal--benefits everyone.

Meanwhile, from Eric Raymond, we have an analysis of Microsoft's 'Shared Source' program.

We here at Microsoft call this 'protecting intellectual property rights in order to create a sustainable business model'. Um, that would be *our* intellectual property and *our* business model. You surely weren't thinking we cared about *your* business or *your* rights, were you?

Linux International also rejects 'Shared Source' in favor of open source.

Linux Stock Index for May 17 to May 23, 2001.

LSI at closing on May 17, 2001 ... 32.71
LSI at closing on May 23, 2001 ... 33.83

The high for the week was 34.45
The low for the week was 32.71

Press Releases:

Open source products

• Logilab: Logilab releases Narval 1.0 under the GNU GPL.

• NuSphere Corporation (BEDFORD, Mass.): NuSphere Adds Access Manager for Apache to Nusphere MySQL Advantage 2.1 Web Development Package.

• Stratabase.com Inc. (ABBOTSFORD, BC): Stratabase Releases Open-Source CRM Platform for the Enterprise.

• Tridia Corporation (ATLANTA): Tridia Corporation Launches 'pcAnywhere Is Nowhere Near This Free' Contest.

Proprietary Products for Linux

• Altera Corporation (San Jose, Calif.): Altera Announces Linux Support for the Quartus® II Development Software ftware.

• Magma Design Automation, Inc. (CUPERTINO, Calif.): Magma Announces Support for Linux Operating System; Blast Chip, Blast Fusion Available Now for Linux Platforms.

• Mission Critical Linux, Inc. (LOWELL, Mass.): Mission Critical Linux's Enterprise-Quality, High-Availability Cluster Software Now Available On Redhat.Com Marketplace.

• MontaVista Software Inc. (LONDON): MontaVista Software Powers Up High Availability Tool Kit; CompactPCI Introduction First in a Family of HA Offerings for Embedded Linux.

• Rauch Medien (New York, USA): Rauch Medien and Arco technology come together in world's first remote RAID monitoring system.

• Sitraka Software (TORONTO): Sitraka Software Provides Motif Developers With Enhanced Suite of GUI Components, Including Web Publishing Utility- XRT/Pageformatter.

• Surveyor Corporation (SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.): Surveyor Re-Defines Delivery of Audio-Video Via Internet With New Family of Webcam Tools.

• VMware, Inc. (PALO ALTO, Calif.): VMware Announces Support for New Linux 2.4 Operating Systems.

Hardware and bundled products

• Dell (AUSTIN, Texas): Dell Readies Itanium-Based PowerEdge Server. Servers will be available with Red Hat Linux.

• IBM (ARMONK, N.Y.): IBM Delivers New Affordable Thin Servers and New Appliances That Help Speed Delivery of Internet Content to Users.

• Intel Corporation (AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands): Intel Introduces Complete Network Processor Development Environment to Speed New Services. The comprehensive development environment features a suite of new software design tools, including support for the Linux operating system, a unique modular programming system, sample designs and a versatile hardware development platform.

• Microware Systems Corporation (DES MOINES, Iowa): Microware Ships First LAN/WAN Software Solution for Intel IXP1200 Network Processor and Intel IXDP1200 Advanced Development Platform.

Products and Services Using Linux

• eSniff, Inc. (DENVER): eSniff 1100: Protecting Schools in Cyberspace. The eSniff 1100 is a Linux-based hardware device that runs on any 10BaseT or 100BaseT network.

• Lineo, Inc. (PARIS): Lineo Availix Clustering 1.3 ships.

• MSC.Software Corporation (COSTA MESA, Calif.): MSC.Software Ships MSC.Nastran 2001; More Powerful Version Already Delivering a Major Productivity Boost to Customers.

• TUXIA (AUGSBURG, Germany): TUXIA Announces Integration of Nanozilla in Its Embedded Linux Software for Internet Appliances.

Products With Linux Versions

• BiTMICRO NETWORKS (FREMONT, Calif.): BiTMICRO NETWORKS Breaks Storage Capacity Barrier with 17.4 GBytes 2.5-inch ATA Solid-State Flash Disk.

• Force Computers (SAN JOSE, Calif.): Force Releases DECtalk Text-to-Speech Software Version 4.61 Featuring Support for Six Languages.

• @HDL, Inc. (SAN JOSE, Calif.): @HDL'S New Adaptive Functional Verification Suite Accelerates SOC Validation. Both @Verifier and @Designer are available for use with Solaris and Linux based systems.

• Intel Corporation (SAN DIEGO): Intel Enhances Voice Portal Technology, Enables Voice Web Access for Millions Via the Phone; Voice Portal Building Blocks Now Feature Linux Support, Higher Density and Smaller Footprint.

• International Messaging Associates : Internet Exchange Messaging Server 5 Enhances Email Security.

• Logitech (LOS ANGELES): Logitech Announces WingMan Action Pad; Feature-Rich Gamepad to Debut At E3.

• MUSICMATCH Inc. (SAN DIEGO): MUSICMATCH Offers Most Powerful CD Burning in Final Version of New Jukebox; Includes New MUSICMATCH Radio Stations and Commercially Available Radio MX.

• Nexthaus (RALEIGH, N.C.): Nexthaus Unveils SyncML Wireless Synchronization Solution; New Wireless Sync Developer will Demonstrate Multi-Platform and Multi-Device Synchronization at Vortex 2001.

• Real Intent, Inc. (SANTA CLARA, Calif.): Real Intent Announces The EDA Industry's First Scalable Formal RTL Verification System; Breaks the Formal Verification Complexity Barrier.

• UltraBac Software (BELLEVUE, Wash.): UltraBac Software Launches UltraBac 6.3. Support for Linux is also available with this release of UltraBac.

• Workstation Solutions (AMHERST, N.H.): Workstation Solutions Announces New Quick Restore Data Protection Software For Windows 2000 and Linux Users.

Java Products

• Cape Clear Software (WALNUT CREEK, Calif.): Cape Clear Delivers Web Services to Mainstream Developers With the Full Release of CapeConnect Two for J2EE.

• DataMirror Corporation (WASHINGTON): Leading CRM and ERP Applications Can Access DataMirror Open API for Real-time Integration.

• esmertec, inc. (ZURICH, Switzerland): esmertec Dramatically Reduces the Startup Time of Its High-Performance Jbed Micro Edition CLDC Virtual Machine.

• Intermec Technologies Corp. (EVERETT, Wash.): Intermec's New MobileLAN Manager Software Speeds Installation, Simplifies Administration of Enterprise Wireless Networks.

• JavaWorld (SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass.): JavaWorld Announces Editors' Choice Award Finalists: . Best Java Virtual Machine - Blackdown 1.3 Linux, Blackdown.org

• NETAPHOR SOFTWARE INC. (IRVINE, Calif.): NETAPHOR SOFTWARE INC. Announces Licensing Agreement with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. on MetaConsole Network Device Management Technology. MetaConsole snap-ins work with Java-enabled Web browsers commonly used on Linux and other platforms.

• SmartMode (San Francisco, CA): SmartMode Enterprise JSP Rapid Application Development Tools Enter Beta.

• Sun Microsystems, Inc. (PALO ALTO, Calif.): Sun Microsystems' Forte(TM) for Java(TM) IDE Downloads Speed Past One Million Mark.

Partnerships

• EBIZ Enterprises Incorporated and WireX (HOUSTON): EBIZ Enterprises and WireX Partner to Offer Small Business Appliance Servers; New Products Include ezNET.SBS Appliance Servers for the Small Business Market.

• Embedded Linux Consortium (AUGSBURG, Germany): Embedded Linux Consortium - Europe to be launched at TUXIA in Augsburg..

• eOn Communications Corporation (ATLANTA): eOn's eQueue Multi-Media Contact Center Chosen as Communications Solution For Great Bridge.

• KYZO Ltd (UNITED KINGDOM): KYZO Ltd. announces development collaboration with 3Com Corporation.

• NeTraverse Inc. (AUSTIN, Texas): NeTraverse Announces Relationship with Red Hat. Red Hat will support NeTraverse modifications to the Linux kernel.

• Quintalinux (HONG KONG): Quintalinux Limited in iOffice2000 Marketing Agreement With Acer Computer.

• Rainmaker Systems, Inc. (SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif.): Caldera Selects Rainmaker to Drive Revenue From Contract Renewals.

• Wincor Nixdorf Inc. and ADS Retail (AUSTIN, Texas): Wincor Nixdorf Announces Strategic Partnership With ADS Retail. The Smart Client initiative from Wincor Nixdorf and ADS Retail provides an ideal trim client configuration running the Red Hat Linux embedded kernel on a BEETLE /NetPOS or BEETLE /S system.

Investments and Acquisitions

• Inforonics (LITTLETON, Mass.): Inforonics Acquires Harrison & Troxell Team and Technology; Acquisition of Internet Software and Services Company Extends Inforonics' Reach into Additional Marketplaces. Harrison & Troxell's nextSITE is a scalable and modular Web site development tool built on Linux.

Personnel & New Offices

• Penguin Computing Inc. (SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.): Penguin Computing Names Menekse Gencer as Director of Business Development.

Linux / Open Source At Work

• AMD (SUNNYVALE, Calif.): AMD Athlon Processor Gaining Global Recognition as Supercomputing Superstar. Five more academic institutions have each installed new Beowulf supercomputers using the AMD Athlon(TM). processor.

• LinuxWizardry Systems, Inc. (BOCA RATON, Fla.): LinuxWizardry and airface Form Alliance to Offer Uplink Failover System.

• Lutris Technologies Inc. (SANTA CRUZ, Calif.): Lutris Technologies Named To The Unstrung 25 List Of The Wireless Industry's Best Companies.

• Sleepycat Software, Inc. (LINCOLN, Massachusetts): Amazon chooses Berkeley DB for Sponsored Results.

Section Editor: Rebecca Sobol.

Next: Linux in the news