Novell launches open source attack on Windows

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 10 May 2006 06:27

Business IT - Technology

Novell has launched its Open Workgroup Suite saying it gives customers an open source alternative to Windows-based applications for a price as little as 30 percent that of the Microsoft offering.
The suite includes server and desktop components with management tools, collaboration capabilities and "the most advanced open source office products in the market".

Novell Open Workgroup Suite gives customers two options. For deployment with Linux servers and any desktop platform, the suite includes Novell Open Enterprise Server (with SUSE Linux Enterprise Server), Novell GroupWise for collaboration, Novell ZENworks Suite for cross-platform systems management, Novell Linux Desktop and OpenOffice.org for Windows and Linux.

The suite is also available in a cross-platform version that allows deployment of the same suite components on any supported platform.

The Novell Open Workgroup Suite replaces the Novell Small Business Suite and Novell Linux Small Business Suite, with an upgrade path for customers of these products.

Pricing for the Linux version of the Novell Open Workgroup Suite starts with a rental option for $US80 per year or $US110 per device/user for a perpetual license. The cross-platform version of the suite is $US150 per user/device for a perpetual license. Annual maintenance is also available, and upgrade pricing is available to existing customers of Open Enterprise Server, NetWare, GroupWise, ZENworks or competing products.

More information is available on the Novell Website http://www.novell.com/products/openworkgroupsuite.