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From: Daniel Quinlan <quinlan@transmeta.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2000 16:31:39 -0700 (PDT)
To: lwn@lwn.net
Subject: general availability of LI18NUX2000 Globalization Specification 

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                            Free Standards Group

                               LI18NUX Project

                    Linux Internationalization Initiative

                                Press Release

                                                            Aug. 15th, 2000
                                                        San Jose, California

  Free Standards Group LI18NUX Project (Linux Internationalization
Initiative) announces general availability of LI18NUX2000 Globalization
Specification

  [San Jose, CA--August 15, 2000] The Linux Internationalization Initiative
(Li18nux) announced today the general availability of the LI18NUX2000,
Globalization Specification. Those who are interested can obtain this
specification from the following:  http://www.li18nux.net/

 The LI18NUX2000 specification includes the best of globalization
functionality that commercial UNIX systems have successfully implemented and
compliments the functionality with extensions that will make Linux
Internationalization comprehensive for all national and local requirements.
By conforming to the LI18NUX2000 specification, application programmers will
benefit from UNICODE-based multi-lingual capabilities in a portable manner
across Linux distributions and UNIX systems.

 "The members of Li18nux including all the major Linux distributors are very
active in developing globalized Linux distributions that conform with the
LI18NUX 2000 specification" says Akio Kido, co-chairperson of Li18nux. "I
hope that a Global Linux distribution which supports multiple languages
simultaneously will be available before end of Q4 2000."

 Preparation of the LI18NUX2000 Certification Program has been underway to
assure LI18NUX2000 conformity of various Linux distributions. The actual
certification program is expected to start at Q4 of this year.

 These projects at the Li18nux are strongly supported by the following
member organizations:

   * Compaq Computer
   * Conectiva Linux
   * Digital Factory and Kondara Project
   * Fujitsu Limited
   * Hitachi, Ltd.
   * IBM Corporation
   * Japan PPC Linux Users Group (JPLUG)
   * Legend Computer Systems Limited
   * Miracle Linux Corporation
   * Red Hat, Inc.
   * SGI
   * SuSE Linux AG.
   * TurboLinux, Inc.
   * VA Linux Systems, Inc.

About LI18NUX:

 Li18nux is a project under Free Standards Group. The members of the project
consist of Linux and Open Source related contributors who are working on
Globalization, a combination of Internationalization and Localization. The
project was formed in August 1999. The ultimate goal of the project is to
achieve software/application portability and interoperability in the
International context for Linux and other open source projects. Its
activities are focused on the internationalization of a core set of APIs and
components of Linux distributions to achieve a common Linux environment.
This will allow an internationalized Linux application to be executed
regardless of different flavor of distributions are used. The results of the
working group will be open to everyone.




Compaq Computer Endorsement:

"The General Availability of the Globalization specification is a major step
in support of worldwide development and usage of Linux technology", said
Glenn Johnson, Director of Compaq's Linux Program Office. "Compaq is pleased
to be a participant in the Linux Working Group, and congratulates all the
members for providing the leadership and collaborative effort to achieve
this milestone".

Conectiva Linux Endorsement:

"Conectiva understands and supports the efforts of the Linux
Internationalization Initiative. The final release of the LI18NUX2000
specification defines a reliable foundation for multicultural, free software
enabled Linux."

Digital Factory and Kondara Project Endorsement:

Digital Factory and Kondara Project will continue to share their fruitage
with the open source community and participate and contribute to the
activity of specifying LI18NUX2000 Globalization Specifications. We have
always held the concept of Multi-lingual in our development and have
supported the movement of LI18NUX2000 Globalization Specification. Moreover,
we have willingly provided our highly advanced technology of successfully
achieving an English and Japanese environment in a single binary to the open
source community. By developing a multi-lingual environment, we hope to lead
the movement of globalization and actively take part in the LI18nux2000
Globalization Specification activity.

Fujitsu Limited Endorsement:

Fujitsu believes the completion of LI18NUX2000 Globalization Specification
represents a significant contribution to the worldwide applicability and
standardization of Linux. We look forward to concrete progress in the
application of this specification in operating systems, and we plan to
redouble our cooperation toward achieving such progress.

Kazunari Morimoto, General Manager Platform Business Promotion Division
Software Group, Fujitsu Limited

Hitachi, Ltd. Endorsement:

Hitachi Japan is pleased to endorse the release of the LI18NUX2000
globalization specification. The internationalization of Linux applications
is important for the growth of Linux. We will hereafter support the
activities of the Linux Internationalization Initiative and contribute to
the growth of the Linux market.

Kenji Fukuta Director of Linux Business Center, Software Development
Division, Hitachi, Ltd. Japan

IBM Corporation Endorsement:

Ross Mauri, Vice President, UNIX software, said: "The general availability
of LI18NUX2000 from the Linux Internationalization Initiative will make
Linux even more attractive to the worldwide independent software vendor
community. The global nature of business and the Internet makes the need to
support local languages an imperative. IBM is pleased to be a part of
LI18NUX, and we will continued to work with the community to build a better
Linux."

Japan PPC Linux Users Group (JPLUG) Endorsement:

We are very happy to hear the announcement of the general availability of
LI18NUX2000 Globalization specification. Taking this great opportunity, we
hope we can contribute even more to the activity of LI18NUX in order to
enhance its technology by expanding our activity as Japan PPC Linux user
group. Also, we are very pleased to know the certification program will
start in pretty soon.

Legend computer systems Limited Endorsement:

Legend Computer Systems Ltd. is devoted to release Linux distribution for
Chinese people. We appreciate the work of the LI18NUX group and hope to
contribute to it by positively taking part in the activity. The LI18NUX2000
Globalization specification is a step forward in achieving standardization
of the Linux OS, which should benefit all developers as well as companies.
We will do our best to release a distribution in conformity to it.

Xiongrui, Software Business, Legend computer systems Limited.

Miracle Linux Endorsement:

"Miracle Linux Corporation supports this standard activity and we have a
plan to implement the LI18NUX2000 specification", said Hiro Yoshioka, an
active member of li18nux and CTO of Miracle Linux Corporation.

Red Hat, Inc. Endorsement:

Red Hat, Inc. is committed to Linux internationalization. We are actively
participating in LI18NUX activities. With help from communities and
cooperation from other corporation, we have been heavily working on
internationalization of glibc 2.2, which is core part of LI18NUX2000
specification. We are also working closely with LI18NUX certification group
to ensure our adherence to any guidelines and standards.

Red Hat, Inc. CTO Micheal Tiemann

SGI Endorsement:

SGI (Silicon Graphics, Inc.) has been a strong supporter of Unix operating
system standards and open source movement. The release of LI18NUX2000
Globalization Specification is a significant achievement by the Linux
Internationalization Initiative (Li18nux). We are actively contributing to
the next step, the certification of LI18NUX2000, which will undoubtedly
improve the level of Internationalization conformance of linux distributions
as a whole.

Jan Silverman (Vice President of Marketing)

SuSE Linux AG Endorsement:

"SuSE Linux is an international Linux company and we recognize the
importance of focusing on the international market. We have long been a
primary supporter of open source. SuSE Linux is available in seven languages
and adapted to more than 30 different local markets. The Free Standards
Group and Li18nux are key strategic efforts in supporting and fulfilling
international and local goals," said Dirk Hohndel, CTO of SuSE Linux AG.

TurboLinux, Inc. Endorsement:

Brisbane (CA, August 15, 2000): TurboLinux is pleased to declare support for
the Li18nux standardization initiative. "We are pleased to see that this
important step in the establishment of a truly global Linux is now reality",
said Lonn Johnston, VP Corporate Communications, "TurboLinux emerged from a
strong base in Linux localization for the Japanese and Chinese markets. Now
we will see the next exciting development - Global Linux for each locale."

VA Linux Systems, Inc. Endorsement:

"Linux is one of the best examples of international collaboration in Open
Source development," said Brian Biles, vice president of business
development, VA Linux Systems. "VA endorses the efforts of Li18nux and The
Free Standards Group in advancing multi-language support."


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