See also: last week's Commerce page.

Linux and Business

Poland taxes free software as a donation. Here's an article from the debian-devel list on how a "local fiscal office" in Poland has levied a tax on a company which is using Linux on its servers. Evidently the Linux software is supposed to be recognized as a donation, with a value comparable to Microsoft products. More information is available, for those who can read Polish, in this ComputerWorld Poland article.

Bull and Penguin Computing sign deal. Bull and Penguin Computing have announced a deal where they will cooperate in the sales and support of Linux systems in Europe. This cooperation will cover everything from manufacturing to phone support. Bull is already an investor in Penguin, so this deal just deepens their relationship. If it helps Penguin get a foothold in Europe, it could prove to be a good thing indeed.

Red Hat appoints new CFO. After several months, Red Hat has announced that it finally has a new chief financial officer. It's Kevin Thompson, who joined the company way back in October as VP of operations.

Turbolinux EnFuzion cracks NT passwords in a minute at Comdex. Here's a press release from Turbolinux on its demonstration of its EnFuzion clustering software at Comdex. To demonstrate what EnFuzion can do, the company chose the task of cracking NT passwords - something that the cluster evidently can do in one minute. "Turbolinux does not endorse breaking passwords on Microsoft software or any other products."

Borland delivers free edition of JBuilder 4. Inprise/Borland has announced that the "JBuilder 4 Foundation" Java development environment is available for free download.

FreeDevelopers.net on voting software. FreeDevelopers.net (profiled in last week's LWN Weekly Edition) has put out a press release stating that it has an open source electronic voting system which can prevent a repeat of the current electoral joy currently being experienced here in the U.S.

Atipa Now Offering Free Online 'Test Drives' of Beowulf Clusters. Atipa apparently has two 4-node clusters, one AMD and one Intel, which it has opened to customers for test drives. The systems, called Ascendance, have been configured with Wulfkit, Myrinet, Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet so the clusters can be tested with any of these options between nodes.

Guru.com and Red Hat launch Linux marketplace. Guru.com has announced the launch of a "Linux marketplace," in cooperation with Red Hat. It is oriented around Guru.com's "gig matching" services for contractors.

Cyclades taps Hard Hat Linux for new access server. Cyclades has announced the availability of the TS2000 terminal server, which runs MontaVista's Hard Hat Linux internally.

Press Releases:

Commercial Products for Linux

• Bynari Inc. (DALLAS) announced an enhanced version of its TradeXCH desktop collaboration system.

• Caesius Software (SEATTLE) announced the availability of its WebQL Internet search system.

• GraphOn Corp. (LAS VEGAS) is shipping Bridges 1.1.

• Merlin Software (LAS VEGAS) released PerfectBACKUP+ 7.0 for Linux.

• Merlin Software (LAS VEGAS) also released "Communicado Fax" for Linux.

• Macro 4 launched its "UniQPrint" printing software for Linux on the S/390.

• Lineo, Inc. (LAS VEGAS, COMDEX Fall 2000) previewed the Japanese version of its Embedix SDK at Comdex.

• MontaVista Software Inc. (LAS VEGAS) is demonstrating its thin-client version of Hard Hat Linux at Comdex.

• PlugSys International (SAN LEANDRO, CA) announced a beta version of Max Server Pages.

• Sigma Designs (LAS VEGAS) announced a DVD player for Linux.

• Spatializer Audio Laboratories and 4Front Technologies (SANTA CLARA, Calif.) announced the "StreamFX" plugin for XMMS which is said to provide improved audio capabilities.

• Xi Graphics Inc. (DENVER) has released graphics support for two RADEON graphics cards.

Products and Services Using Linux

• Gateway Inc. (NEW YORK) announced its Crusoe-based web pad, and a bunch of other stuff.

• HostNYC, Inc. (NEW YORK) has new service plans for its (Linux-based) hosting business.

• James River Technical, Inc. (RICHMOND, Va.) launched "Availigence", a MSP that helps small- to medium-size businesses monitor and manage their infrastructure.

• M-Systems (LAS VEGAS) announced that its DiskOnChip flash device is used in Inter-Con/PC, Inc.'s Linux-based set-top box.

• M-Systems (LAS VEGAS) also announced that Chip PC is using DiskOnChip in its Xtreme PC.

• Tvia, Inc. (LAS VEGAS) had its processor used in Acer's Linux-based set-top box.

• Vibrance Networks (LAS VEGAS) released the second generation of its Linux-based VNIA Internet appliance platform.

• WebMachines (LAS VEGAS) announced its "iaNetwork server infrastructure solution" for the management of Internet appliances.

Products with Linux Versions

• Agfa Monotype Corporation (LAS VEGAS) released its iType font scaling system.

• Bakbone (LAS VEGAS) released version 2.23e of its MagnaVault optical storage management software.

• Capslock (SAN JOSE, Calif.) announced its "Secure Wireless Access Technology."

• Central Command (MEDINA, Ohio) announced AntiVirus eXpert, a virus scanning package.

• Cycore (SAN MATEO, Calif.) optimized Cult3D for Pentium 4 processors.

• Infoteria Corporation (TOKYO, and BOSTON) released a version of its iPEX XML development platform that supports Java.

• Microline Corporation (ALIQUIPPA, Pa.) released BackupEDGE 01.01.08build6.

• MindMaker, Inc. (SAN JOSE, Calif.) released a beta of FlexSpeech, a speech recognition system.

• MindMaker, Inc. (SAN JOSE, Calif.) also announced its "FlexVoice TTS Farm" speech generation system.

• Objectivity, Inc. (MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.) released Objectivity/DB 6.0.

• Paradigm3 Internet Software (SAN JOSE, Calif.) announced its software license management package.

• Pixami, Inc. (SAN RAMON, Calif.) released "Photo Edges," which adds edge effects to digital photos.

• SpiderCache, Inc. (VANCOUVER, B.C.) released its web caching product for Linux.

• Teamware Group announced a 90-day evaluation version of Teamware Office 5.3 for Linux-Mandrake 7.2.

• ThoughtShare Communication Inc. (LAS VEGAS, NV) released its "bViewer" "knowledge management" product.

• Trend Micro (CUPERTINO, Calif.) announced InterScan eManager 3.5, a mail filtering and virus scanning utility. Linux version due "later this year."

• WebMachines (LAS VEGAS) released its iaClient internet appliance software for Linux.

Java Products

• RSW Software (WALTHAM, Mass.) announced Bean-test 3.1, a Java Bean testing utility.

• SL Corp. (CHICAGO) announced the availability of SL-GMS J/Net, a graphical network management package.

Books and Training

• Zero Knowledge Systems (MONTREAL); their cryptographer Dr. Stefan Brands has published an MIT Press book on public key infrastructures and digital certificates.

Partnerships

• Bluepoint Linux Software Corp. (LOS ANGELES) is partnering with Guangdong Shijilong Holding Co. Ltd. to build Internet data centers.

• eOn Communications Corporation (ATLANTA) has an OEM agreement with Indyme Electronics.

• Enterprise and PartnerAxis (LAS VEGAS) are launching an electronic marketplace for Linux solutions.

• Merlin Software (LAS VEGAS) has a new partner program called "Pure Magic."

• METASes (CHICAGO) is working with SecurityFocus.com to provide a managed security service offering.

• Netword Inc. and Chilliware Inc. (GAITHERSBURG, Md.) announced that Chilliware will be packing Networds with its desktop products.

• Proxim, Inc. and iRobot Corp. (SUNNYVALE, Calif.) will build Proxim's Symphony home networking technology into iRobot's home robot.

• Sangoma.com (TORONTO) is working with DY 4 Systems to develop a Linux-based network appliance.

• SecuGen Corporation (SAN JOSE, Calif.) is integrating its biometric authentication software into Novell's Modular Authentication Service.

• SGI And Mercantec (MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and NAPERVILLE, Ill.) will be partnering to provide turnkey Linux- (and IRIX-) based e-commerce solutions.

Investments and Acquisitions

• LinuxWizardry Systems (BOCA RATON, Fla.) completed a $1.1 million funding round.

• TheSUBWAY.com (WESTON, Fla.) announced an investment opinion on LinuxWizardry Systems.

• Xybernaut Corporation (FAIRFAX, Va.) completed a $18 million financing round.

Financial Results

• 1mage Software Inc. (ENGLEWOOD, Colo.) announced its third quarter results.

Personnel

• LinuxWizardry Systems, Inc. (BOCA RATON, Fla.) appointed W. J. Skelton as VP of Corporate Development.

• NuSphere (BEDFORD, Mass.) announced the hiring of MySQL hacker Paul Dubois.

Other

• Caldera Systems (OREM, Utah) announced the availability of free Linux training at Comdex.

• HouseHold Direct (NEW YORK) has a new e-commerce site built on the (Open Source) ArsDigita Community System.

• Inprise Corporation (SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif.) is changing its name to Borland Software Corporation.

• VMware, Inc. (PALO ALTO, Calif.) won PC Magazine's Technical Excellence award.

Section Editor: Rebecca Sobol.

Next: Linux in the news