IBM and friends promise "Microsoft-free" desktops for worldwide market

Stephen Withers
Wednesday, 06 August 2008 13:10

Business IT - Open Source

IBM, three major Linux distributors and their hardware partners are teaming up to deliver "Microsoft-free" desktop PCs to the one billion unit worldwide market. The cost could be as little as half that of systems using Microsoft equivalents.

The move puts even more pressure on Microsoft, already under siege from competitors such as Apple, Google and Mozilla, which continue to erode its market share in strategic areas.

The Linux operating system will come from Canonical (Ubuntu), Novell (SUSE) and Red Hat; IBM will provide Open Collaboration Client Solution (OCCS - a package of collaboration and office software that includes Lotus Notes, Symphony and SameTime); and local integrators will supply the hardware and market-specific applications.

The plan is that the integrators will offer configurations for various segments, including government, banking and education.

For example, Austria-based VDEL is already delivering such a system to customers in Eastern Europe. VDEL's OpenReferent features Red Hat Linux and OCCS, and has been well received by customers such as Russia Post.

"IBM software and Linux on desktop combined is not just a better price/performance substitute for the Microsoft offering, but it provides a new platform for customers and business partners to add true value by creating tailor-made solutions," said Milan Prohaska, VDEL's general manager.

More from Prohaska and other players on page 2.