From: Con Zymaris <conz@cyber.com.au>
Subject: Red Hat Linux Support in Australia
To: editor@lwn.net
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 22:29:10 +1000 (EST)


Hello,
Cybersource has recently launched its commercial grade technical
support program for Red Hat Linux in Australia. This release contains
information about this service.

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE			1998-10-20

					CONTACT:Richard Keech
						rkeech@cyber.com.au

						Con Zymaris
						conz@cyber.com.au
						
					PHONE: 	+61 3 9642 5997

For full information, visit http://www.cyber.com.au/					
						
-- Commercial grade support for Linux in Australia
-- keywords: Linux, Open Source, Cybersource, Support, Red Hat Software
					
 
 Linux; the next wave
 
 The information age has seen a number of technology waves thunder in,
 changing the rules completely and making casualties of those who
 couldn't or wouldn't adapt.  The last one, the Internet, crashed into
 public view in 1992.  The next one is about to break.  It is Linux,
 the free operating system developed in 1991 by 21-year-old Finn, Linus
 Torvalds in Helsinki.
 
 Linus' genius wasn't so much in his programming (though it is mighty
 impressive).  His true genius was and still is his ability to build on
 the fine traditions of free software from the Unix operating system,
 and in being able to use the Internet effectively to bring together a
 team of hundreds of volunteer programmers.  The result is software
 that keeps turning the skeptics into converts.  And it's still all
 completely and absolutely free.

 Linux has been a well kept secret for a number of years, and has
 developed an enormous following (estimated to be in excess of 10  
 million users and growing at more than 100% per annum).
 
 The software phenomenon that is Linux is now reaching critical mass.
 With cover features on Forbes magazine, and the announcement of Linux
 ports of their software by none other than Oracle, Corel and
 Inprise (Borland.)
 
 In old-school commercial circles, many IT managers won't touch Linux
 because they can't bring themselves to trust something you can
 download for nothing from the Net.  Despite this, many other have  
 developed a grudging respect for Linux.  Many report that it simply  
 never crashes, and that it works really well on modestly-specified 
 systems that you wouldn't even think of running NT services on.
 
 The main reason many cite for not taking Linux seriously is a
 perceived lack of support.  This is despite Info World magazine giving
 its 1997 Product of the year award (Best Technical Support) to the
 Linux user community, who on the Internet and in small user
 communities around the globe, have been able to consistently give a  
 level of service that many commercial providers only dream about. 
 Cybersource catches the next wave
 
 Melbourne firm, Cybersource, is helping to herald this new computing
 era by announcing its partnership with Red Hat Software of North
 Carolina.  Cybersource have teamed with Red Hat to provide commercial
 support for Red Hat's much lauded version of Linux.
 
 "We're thrilled to have been chosen by Red Hat as their first
 Australian support partner" said Richard Keech of Cybersource.  "Red
 Hat is going places fast with Linux, and it's great to be part of the
 action."

 Cybersource's young and energetic MD, Con Zymaris, said "We have 
 absolutely no double that Linux is going to really take the IT world 
 by surprise."
 
 Cybersource and Red Hat are filling the niche for commercial-style
 support for Linux.  "Before companies will commit to a product, they
 need to be confident that, if and when the need arises, there will be 
 someone just a phone call (or email) away" says Cybersource's Richard
 Keech.  "It doesn't matter if it is free, because without this type of
 support, enterprises won't entrust their business servers to software
 they can't hold someone accountable for."
 
 Keech recounts how his Linux conversion was hearing how it was being
 successfully used in systems providing critical patient care in a
 large American cancer hospital in 1993.  "And Linux has improved a lot
 since then" Keech says.
 
 According to Zymaris, "We expect that with the support component in  
 place, businesses with open-minded IT management will now take a
 serious look at Linux."  "The pattern is that once people see how good
 this software is, it quickly is absorbed into the enterprise IT
 framework, typically where there is a need for small to medium sized
 web, application and file servers."

---

Cybersource Pty. Ltd. is an IT professional serices firm, located in
Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1991, it has technical expertise in
integrating Unix/Linux, TCP/IP and Windows.


                                        CONTACT:Richard Keech
                                                rkeech@cyber.com.au

                                                Con Zymaris
                                                conz@cyber.com.au

                                        PHONE:  +61 3 9642 5997

For full information, visit http://www.cyber.com.au/