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Linux and business


Transmeta comes out. As planned, Transmeta broke its long silence this week, and told the world what it has been up to. Details can be found in Transmeta's press release. In summary, Transmeta's product line consists of two processor chips:
  • The TM3120 costs less than $100, and is available immediately. It is intended for mobile Linux systems.

  • The TM5400 will be available mid-year, and is aimed at more traditional laptop systems.
One of the nicer features of both chips is their low power consumption - one watt when operating at full power.

Transmeta sees a future where small, mobile computers take over. A lot of these will run Linux; evidently at least part of Linus Torvalds' job there has been to put together a special version of the system that will run well on the new chips. More details about this version of the system - and the products (which are said to be already in the pipeline) that will make use of it.

Caldera directed share program. In last week's LWN we stated that we were unable to get an answer from Caldera on whether they were doing a community stock offering as part of their IPO. A sharp-eyed reader has pointed out to us that the information we needed is in the S-1 filing; we had simply missed it. "Up to" 10% of the shared will be reserved for the "directed share program." Of those shares, about half will go to Caldera directors, employees, etc. The other half will be offered to "... open source software developers and other persons that we believe have contributed to the success of the open source software community and to the growth of Caldera Systems."

The offering will be handled through Wit Capital, and it appears that opening an account there will be necessary.

Lineo's Embeddix in hotel set-top boxes. Lineo has announced an agreement with Elitegroup Computing and Bast to build a line of set-top boxes using Embeddix (Lineo's embedded version of OpenLinux). The boxes are aimed at hotel and apartment building use.

TurboLinux Completes $57 Million Funding Round. TurboLinux announced it has closed $57 million in a second round of funding, which included a significant investment by Dell, Compaq, Intel and others.

Danish government to use Linux? Here is an article (in Danish) in the Danish newspaper Politiken. Therein, a politician from the Socialist People's Party is quoted as saying: "We want to secure a European knowledge- and network society based on open technology, which will create a more fruitful milieu for technological development, including the possibility that the many smaller Danish and European software companies will be able to develop products for the Linux operating system, without constantly having to fight against Microsoft and their lawyers." The Socialist People's Party is not currently in the governing coalition, but is the fourth biggest party overall and evidently is relatively influential. (Thanks to Anders S. Buch for pointer and translation).

Linux portals on the move. Just in case there weren't enough Linux portal sites out there...M & A West has announced its "Links2Linux" site, which will be launched during LinuxWorld.

Meanwhile, the Global Reaction Network has announced the acquisition of the LinuxFool.com portal site.

NVIDIA, SGI and VA Linux announce OpenGL initiative NVIDIA, SGI and VA Linux have announced a joint initiative to produce "the industry's first professional-level OpenGL(R) graphics sub-system for workstations running Linux."

Corel is looking for beta testers for CorelDraw. Details can be found on Corel's beta program page. A lot of people are looking forward to the availability of this particular utility; it is still Corel's flagship product, in some ways. Corel expects to get a lot of beta applications.

Corel also published its fourth quarter numbers. Here's the press release from Corel with the results. Contrary to last month's predictions, Corel actually shows a profit - by virtue of a one-time tax accounting move. Also: "Corel enjoyed strong inaugural sales of the new Corel(r) LINUX(r) OS, totaling $3.2 million for the quarter." $3.2 million is not a bad start, considering that the distribution hit the market at the end of November.

And to finish with Corel: Corel continues to buy into Linux firms. This time it has announced the acquisition of a minority stake in OE/ONE.com, a maker of Linux-based "internet appliance" systems

Linux on Royal DaVinci PDAs? PDA Buzz is carrying a brief story saying that Royal is developing a version of its DaVinci organizer that runs Linux; it should hit the shelves by summertime. (Thanks to Gordy Perkins).

Section Editor: Jon Corbet.

Press Releases:

    Open Souce Products:

  • GUI Works announced the release of E-Grail 2.0, a commercial Open Source software application for Web site content management.

  • Linux ONA announced a new version of 'Get Acquainted with Linux Security and Optimization System'

    Commercial Products for Linux:

  • Compaq Computer Corporation announced a line of "ActiveAnswers" server products that feature Lotus Domino running on Linux.

  • Cyber Digital, Inc. unveiled a "vast array" of Linux based Internet Products that it has developed and that are being deployed in Boston area.

  • Cybernet Systems Corporation announced a way to turn any PC into an Internet appliance with the NetMAX 2.2 update, a series of Linux-based thin servers supporting Linux Kernel 2.2.13.

  • Dialtone Internet announced that it is offering dedicated cluster hosting services for those needing high performance and availability.

  • eOn Communications Corporation announced two new products in its family of Linux-based communications servers. The eQueue 4000 contact center communications server, and the eNterprise 2000, a private communications exchange (PCX) platform.

  • Hummingbird Communications Ltd. announced the immediate availability of the Hummingbird Enterprise Information Portal.

  • Integrated Business Systems & Services, Inc. announced it has certified Synapse Manufacturing and Synapse EAI+ for Linux.

  • ISG International Software Group, Ltd. announced that ISG Navigator, ISG's comprehensive Enterprise Information Infrastructure (EII) solution, will be available for Linux systems this quarter.

  • JNI Corporation announced the debut of its software driver for Red Hat Linux running on JNI's Emerald-based FibreStar PCI bus HBA cards.

  • KRFTech announced the availability of its WinDriver product for Linux. WinDriver claims to allow the development of cross-platform device drivers that run in user space.

  • Linux Press announced a new line of "How to install Linux" books, starting with "How to Install Linux for Red Hat Linux".

  • Metatec Internet Products Group announced Web Transporter 3.0, the newest release of the company's Web-based software and document distribution system designed for Extranet business operations.

  • SAP announced that its R/3 ERP product is not only available for Linux, but has already been shipped to over 100 customers.

  • SCO announced that it will introduce a portfolio of server products for the Linux market at LinuxWorld Expo.

  • Secure Computing Corporation announced the availability of its "SafeWord" secure authentication system for Linux.

  • Soberbia.com launched its new web site. The new Soberbia.com website provides original T-shirts for geeks. The T-shirts themes are not just about mainstream subjects but everything that is considered relevant to the geeks world.

  • The Sun-Netscape Alliance announced iPlanet Web Server, Enterprise Edition 4.1 and the new FastTrack Edition 4.1 software, both of which now include support for the Linux operating system and the latest Java technologies.

  • TeamWARE announced its latest product offering, TeamWARE 5.3 for Linux, which will be available in the first quarter of Year 2000.

  • Ten Bits LLC announced the immediate availability of it's famous line of tuxed(0) t-shirts (the only t-shirt with a man page).

  • Wizard Software announced the release of a light version of its clustering software, Watchdog in Linux version.

  • Young Minds announced Linux support for its CD-R and DVD-R product line.

    Products Using Linux:

  • Enhanced Software Technologies, Inc. announced that customers will be able to purchase tape drives, optimized for Linux users, from Hewlett-Packard Company through EST's Web site.

  • Hall-Mark Global Solutions announced it will distribute two new bundles: Red Hat Linux Developers Platform and the Red Hat Apache Web Server with Compaq's industry standard server, Proliant, as well as the Compaq Alpha DS10 and DS20(e).

  • USA Video Interactive, Eagle Wireless, and Urbana.ca are working on a Linux-Wavelet set-top box which should be announced by the Spring of 2000.

    Products with Linux Versions:

  • Anyware Technology announced EverLink Suite 2.0, a software solution designed to safeguard network travel of corporate data and information.

  • Citrix Systems, Inc. unveiled its plan to provide enterprise and application service provider users access to UNIX and Java-based applications, from a single application portal.

  • DataDirect Networks Inc. announced the release of their SAN DataDirector to selected beta sites worldwide.

  • DataViews Corporation announced that its high-end HMI software tool, DataViews, now supports Linux.

  • Hughes Software Systems Ltd. and Comuniq, Inc. announced an intent to collaborate to deliver HSS's ProtoQuick SS7 and VoIP suite of software solutions on Comuniq's family of Streaming Media Application Server (SMAS) products.

  • Infonet Services Corp. announced that its Messenger Server, part of the Messenger WorkPlace family of productivity solutions, now runs on the Linux operating system.

  • Iwill USA Corp. announced the arrival of the DU3160, the dual-channel Ultra 160 SCSI adapter.

  • Knox Software announced that Arkeia 4.2 has earned IBM Netfinity ServerProven Solution validation.

  • LSI Logic Corporation announced low-profile PCI ULTRA2 SCSI and PCI ULTRA160 host adapter boards.

  • MyFreeDesk.com announced the beta launch of a free office suite of personal computer applications that can be accessed over the Internet from any location in the world.

  • NEC Computers Inc. announced the Express5800/120Ld and Express5800/120Mc2, two new Intel-based, dual-processor servers. They are Red Hat certified.

  • NetServerDirect announced the "Maximum RAID" server. Choice of preinstalled operating system includes Red Hat Linux.

  • Network Associates, Inc. announced the McAfee VirusScan 4.5 product.

  • Rational Software announced that it will work with Intel to port its e-development solution to Linux64 (Trillian), and other members of the IA-64 family of processors.

  • Robocom Systems International announced the immediate availability of its flagship RIMS product on Red Hat Linux.

  • RPK Security, Inc. announced RPK SecureMedia V2.0 for the RealNetworks RealSystem G2 media delivery system.

  • Secure Computing Corporation announced a technology alliance that will provide next-generation Sidewinder and SafeWord security products optimized for the upcoming Intel Itanium processor.

  • SSH Communications Security announced the SSH IPSEC Appliance Toolkit, an Internet security toolkit geared for the Internet appliance market.

  • Tripwire, Inc. announced the availability of Tripwire 2.2.1, a File Integrity Assessment software tool.

  • VeriSign, Inc. announced the availability of VeriSign's 128-bit Global Server IDs for Covalent's RavenT SSL product.

  • Vital, Inc. reports an increase in the number of downloads for the Linux version of its CRiSP editor.

    Partnerships, Investments and Acquisitions:

  • Applix announced that it is a participant in TurboLinux's latest round of financing.

  • Beyond.com announced that it has been selected by Red Hat as a value-added reseller for Red Hat Linux software and services. Beyond.com will be the first Red Hat certified reseller to the U.S. government.

  • CALC/Canterbury Corp. announced that it has signed an agreement to provide Linuxcare University Certified Training Classes to information technology professionals, systems engineers and software and Internet developers.

  • Derlan Industries Limited announced it now has a 10 per cent Common Share interest in SpellCaster in addition to its holding of Preferred Shares. SpellCaster is a privately held company that provides digital telecommunication solutions for Linux-based systems.

  • Digi International announced an agreement with Red Hat Inc. to join in marketing programs that will enable distributors, resellers and integrators to offer Linux-based communications servers designed specifically to suit the needs of small- to medium-sized businesses.

  • eSoft Inc., developer of the TEAM Internet Linux software suite, announced a distribution agreement with Raidar Distribution Australia.

  • Government Technology Services, Inc. announced Red Hat Inc. and GTSI are in the final stages of negotiating a formal relationship, permitting GTSI to sell Red Hat Linux to the federal government.

  • GraphOn Corporation signed a strategic partnership agreement with Scandinavian software publishing specialist, SoftwareRun, to use GraphOn's server-based software to web-enable its selection of online Linux and UNIX software demos.

  • Hewlett-Packard Company and VMware, Inc. released this joint announcement about the availability of VMware for Linux on HP VISUALIZE PL450 and XL550 Personal Workstations. The software is available for free download through the month of January.

  • Inprise announced the creation of a $60 million venture fund. Among other things, it will invest in Linux startups.

  • M&A West, Inc. announced that it has joined the LinuxMall.com Referral Program.

  • NETmachines, Inc. announced that a significant investment from Wired & Wireless Global Communication Corporation has enabled NETmachines to expand operations into the European market.

  • SuSE and Minolta have announced a partnership to improve the printer support in SuSE's distribution.

    Other:

  • Antarctic Support Associates, the Denver, Colorado-based company contracted by the National Science Foundation to build and maintain the South Pole's communications systems, is installing Cybernet System's NetMAX for Linux as their gateway to the rest of the world.

  • Cobalt Networks, Inc. reported record results for the quarter ending December 31, 1999.

  • Forlink Software Corporation Inc. announced its now in Phase I of its Development Plan. Phase I includes expanded validation and marketing of its software and internet Tool-Suites, increased integration of its products into Linux server environments, strategic alliances in the field of embedded software and tool-suites, PDAs and wireless delivery with China's leading companies.

  • Here is the Gartner Group's latest proclamation on Linux. "Linux will not displace Unix wholesale from the high-end market in the next three to five years because: Unix is well-entrenched legacy technology, Linux is not easily portable to RISC architectures and would represent the same kind of fragmentation that Unix has, Linux would complicate existing OS heterogeneity problems, and Linux currently lacks a fast-track process to achieve mission-critical enhancements equivalent to those offered by Unix vendors."

  • Guru Labs announced a new Linux Training Center.

  • IntraNet Solutions, Inc. announced that "it is the first Web content management vendor to support the Red Hat Linux operating system and Apache Webserver".

  • Linuxcare announced the appointment of Bob Walters as vice president of business development.

  • The Linux Professional Institute announced that Kara Pritchard has joined its Exam Development Department as Assistant Director for Program.

  • Linux Stock News, a new web site providing Linux investment information, has announced its existence.

  • Medullas Publishing Company, Inc. announced the release of Penguin Applications.

  • MontaVista Software Inc., developer of the Hard Hat Linux operating system for embedded computers, announced that as part of its investment in support and services infrastructure the company has hired Kristin Anderson as director of support.

  • MSC.Software Corp. announced the creation the MSC.Linux division supporting Linux products and services.

  • Rankstreet.com, Inc. announced they will be using the Linux platform for their software and server operations.

  • Red Hat announced the resignation of Frank Batten from its board of directors.

  • Silicon Valley Research, Inc. says that sales of its new Linux products are at least partly responsible for the companies first profitable quarter in over 2 years.

  • SuSE Linux AG announced the opening of a new support center in Bremen, Germany.

  • SuSE Linux is growing. This appointment of a larger board of directors sets the course for further expansion.

Section Editor: Rebecca Sobol.


January 20, 2000

 

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