See also: last week's Commerce page.

Linux and business

Gateway, AOL, and Transmeta collaborate on Internet Appliances. Gateway and America OnLine (AOL) have teamed up to bring a family of new Internet Appliances (IA) to market. This announcement, dated May 30, says the new appliances will be powered by Transmeta's Crusoe Processor running Mobile Linux. Mobile Linux is one of the projects that have been keeping Linus Torvalds busy at the formerly-oh-so-secretive Transmeta.

There are three different devices in the works, which will all use the Netscape Gecko browser, described in this press release dated April 5, 2000. "These next-generation appliances will utilize the Netscape Gecko browser technology. Gecko, Netscape's smaller, faster and more potent browser engine technology, is a key component of the AOL Anywhere strategy and is designed to power Internet devices across a range of platforms and enable Web developers to create more compelling Internet-based content and applications. All of these devices will utilize the LINUX operating system."

No mention is made of Transmeta or the Crusoe processor in the April 5 announcement, but, later in April, Gateway and AOL are separately listed among several investors who collectively poured $88 million into Transmeta Corporation.

The three designs vary in size and functionality, from a wireless Web pad to a countertop appliance, and up to a desktop appliance. The latter will be both smaller and cheaper than a PC, but it will have keyboard, mouse and screen. Users will be able to get to AOL and the Internet and send and receive e-mail. The wireless Web pad connects (wirelessly) to a base station to offer portability with a limited range. It can be used with either a touch pad screen, or a wireless keyboard. Naturally all of these devices come with AOL Internet service.

Corel is still in the news. As discussed in the May 18th edition of LWN, Corel is reeling from the cancellation of its deal with Inprise/Borland. It probably didn't help much that shortly after that two senior managers resigned from the company. However, Corel has been working hard to stay in the game.

Newsalert carried the initial press release announcing a "bought deal" between Corel and Canaccord Capital Corporation, involving between $15 million to $30 million Canadian. Some additional details are present in this Reuters article.

Both press releases heavily emphasize the next step, which will be implementing a "cost-savings plan". While we might expect reports of heavy lay-offs next, what we have seen this week are some alliances designed to keep Corel Linux and Linux products around.

Other initiatives announced by Corel this week include:

• There's a deal with Rebel.com wherein Corel will license Rebel.com's "OfficeServer" software and build it into an "enterprise edition" of Corel Linux.

• A strategic alliance with Linux Technology Ltd. will bundle Corel's Word Perfect into Linux Tech.'s Linux-based Internet appliance systems.

• Also Corel has signed a letter of intent with Spinway, Inc., to offer Corel customers free Internet access on Linux, Windows or Macintosh platforms. Corel LINUX OS will include a CD of the free ISP service, specifically designed for Corel LINUX OS.

Announcements from Red Hat. Red Hat has filed its 2000 annual report. Check it out for a complete description of where the company is at. They are up to 435 employees now.

Announcements such as this one from Gothic Corp. which says they will sell 269,511 shares of Red Hat stock have not seemed to have fazed Red Hat very much. Red Hat went on to announce the completion of its acquisition of Bluecurve, Inc., and there's this announcement telling us that the Google search engine runs on Red Hat. "Google, one of the fastest growing search engines on the Web, operates its search engine and all of its computing functions on a cluster of more than 4,000 PCs running Red Hat."

SourceXchange, FreeAgent.com to join up. Opus360 and Collab.Net have announced a deal where Collab.Net will be sponsoring an open source development section on Opus360's FreeAgent.com site.

IBM S/390 RedBook. IBM has posted a "RedBook" for Linux on the S/390. RedBooks are detailed documents aimed at IBM's serious customers - this one is 424 pages long. (Thanks to Alexandre Dulaunoy).

Network Appliance, Oracle, VA Linux build NetLedger Data Center. Network Appliance has announced that it is working with Oracle and VA Linux Systems to build the data center for NetLedger; this center involves "several hundred VA Linux servers."

Linuxcare joins the IA-64 Linux project. Linuxcare has announced that it has joined the IA-64 Linux (don't call it "Trillian" anymore) project.

Press Releases:

Open Source Products
License will be mentioned if known.
• CynApps Inc. (SANTA CLARA, Calif.) made Cynlib 1.2, the latest version of its open-source EDA C++ hardware-design class library, available for downloading at (www.cynapps.com).

• Lutris Technologies, Inc. (SANTA CRUZ, Calif.) announced Lutris Enhydra Professional 3.0, the latest version of this open source application server.

• The OpenSource Documentation Fund will be driven by sales from OpenDocs Books is being implemented to help invigorate the Open Source Documentation Community.

  Commercial Products for Linux

• 101Communications has announced the launch of Enterprise Linux Magazine, starting with the August issue.

• theKompany.com announced the release of PowerPlant, a powerful suite of developer tools and software for producing integrated Linux software.

  Products Using Linux

• Get2Chip.com, Inc. (SAN JOSE, Calif.) will demonstrate VOLARE system-on-chip technology, developed under the Linux operating system with a Java front-end.

  Products with Linux Versions

• 4thpass (AUSTIN, Tex) announced the immediate availability of KBrowser for Palm VII.

• Cambex Corporation introduced the Centurion 2000 FF, a "full-Fibre" Channel disk storage system.

• ClioSoft, Inc. (FREMONT, Calif.) announced a new version of SOS, its design data management system.

• CoffeeCup Software, Inc. announced the planned launch of the CoffeeCup HTML Editor SE.

• DataCore Software Corporation (FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.) announced the immediate availability of its SANsymphony storage domain server software.

• DataMirror Corporation (TORONTO, CANADA) announced the introduction of its new XtremeCache technology for its clustering and high availability Solutions.

• Hypercosm (SAN JOSE, Calif.) now has a Linux version of Hypercosm Studio, for interactive 3D graphics.

• OnShare, LLC (ITHACA, N.Y.) launched its redesigned site. OnShare technology, similar to Napster, allows anyone with access to the Internet to share files with other users.

• Rainfinity (MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.) announced the release of Rainwall 1.5. Rainwall software solutions are designed to ensure high availability of mission-critical Internet firewalls and VPN gateways.

• SynTest Technologies, Inc. (SUNNYVALE, Calif.) announced that the company has added support for the Linux platform for all of its DFT, BIST and ATPG tools.

• Vatical Entertainment (LATHAM, NY) announced the creation of a new publishing arm. The new division, Alter Ego Studios, will target a more mature gaming audience, while games appropriate for all family members will continue to be published under the Vatical logo.

• Zero G (SAN FRANCISCO) announced the introduction of PowerUpdate, an Internet-based updating service for software applications and data.

  Java Products

• Cleo Software Development (PHOENIX, AZ) released Site Mapper 2000. This software is a Java application that makes interactive maps of websites. A Linux version is expected soon.

• Epic Data International Inc. (VANCOUVER, B.C.) and Symbol Technologies, Inc. announced an agreement to jointly launch Epic Data's eXpresso application development toolkit for Symbol handheld computers at the Symbol Software Developers Conference.

• IBM (SOMERS, N.Y.) announced WebSphere Application Server Standard Edition for OS/390, a Java-based Web application server environment.

• O'Reilly & Associates (Sebastopol, CA) announced the release of a significant remake of the popular book "Exploring Java", now titled "Learning Java", by Patrick Niemeyer & Jonathan Knudsen.

• ParaSoft (MONROVIA, Calif.) will exhibit WebKing 2.0 at JavaOne from June 6-9, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California.

  Training

• OmniLinux has announced " Linux 1-2-3 Fundamentals", a CD containing a computer-based tutorial for Linux.

• SAP is now offering Linux and technology courses. (Thanks to Sivaraj D)

  Partnerships

• Bluepoint Linux has announced an agreement with Beijing Guoyan Information Technology Company (Guoyan), a company owned by the China State Council and Beijing Telecom. Bluepoint Linux will be providing its server edition, plus configuration, optimization and design expertise, telephone and on-site support and training.

• eLance.com announced the launch of the eLance Marketplace Network, which among other things will incorporat eLance's projects and service providers into the redhat.com Marketplace.

• Elfstone Software, LLC and MSC.Software (ROYAL OAK, Mich.) announced that Elfstone RTX has been chosen as core graphical interface technology to bring MSC.Patran, engineering modeling and simulation analysis software, to Linux platforms.

• Group 1 Software (LANHAM, Md.) announced that it has entered into an agreement with IBM to provide IBM's WebSphere Application Server as a component of Group 1's enterprise software solutions.

• Integrated Software & Devices Corporation (SAN JOSE, Calif.) provider of embedded Linux, announced it has signed a strategic agreement with ARM. ISDCorp will provide Royal Linux for ARM partners.

• Knox Software (Carlsbad, CA) announced that it has expanded its relationship with SuSE Inc. SuSE resells and supports Arkeia backup software.

• Network Appliance, Inc. (SUNNYVALE, Calif.) and Sendmail, Inc. announced they are offering a combined Internet mail solution.

• SuSE Linux has formed a partnership with Mailbox Internet, Linux internet service provider in the UK, to co-promote desktop penetration of Linux throughout Europe.

• VistaSource, Inc. (WESTBORO, Mass.) announced that it will join forces with Red Hat, Inc. to offer customers a substantial rebate on the purchase of VistaSource and Red Hat Linux products.

• Zapex Technologies (MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.) announced the formation of strategic alliances with Daikin of Singapore and VideoPropulsion of Slinger, Wisconsin, for the marketing of its Linux-based MPEG-2 compression products.

  Investments and Acquisitions

• ArsDigita (CAMBRIDGE, Mass.) announced it has completed the acquisition of iAggregate. iAggregate software will be integrated with the ArsDigita Community System (ACS), a suite of open-source, enterprise-class applications.

• Omnis Technology Corp. (SAN CARLOS, Calif.) announced the acquisition of Metamorph, a Rapid Application Development (RAD) standardization tool. Metamorph will be available later this year, after the launch of Omnis Studio 3.0, and will incorporate all the functionality of the new release, and it will be available in a Linux version.

  Personnel

• 101communications LLC (LOS ANGELES) announced that Gene Pritchard has been named group publisher of HP Professional and Enterprise Linux magazines.

• Rebel.com Inc. announced the addition of Chris Biber to the executive management team as vice president of marketing.

• theKompany.com (RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif.) beefed up its core development team by adding two open source programmers from existing development projects, Phil Thompson, developer of PyQt and PyKDE, a package for using the Python programming language with Qt and KDE development; and Max Judin, developer of KDE Studio, an IDE tool for developing KDE applications for Linux.

  Linux At Work

• Partners in Commerce, Inc. (BOSTON, MA) introduced ClubSelling.com and CorpSelling.com. Linux-based e-commerce solutions built using Magic Enterprise Edition V.8.3 for Linux.

• XOR Inc. (BOULDER, Colo.) announced the signing of a multi-million dollar, multi-year agreement to manage eBusiness for HealthCentral.com, including a Linux-Oracle platform.

  Other

• Merlin Software Technologies International Inc. (ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla.) announced the opening of a sales office in Phoenix, Arizona and the establishment of a telemarketing group.

Section Editor: Rebecca Sobol.

Next: Linux in the news