Linux Foundation bid to lure members

By Sam Varghese
Wednesday, 14 October 2009 06:37

Opinion and Analysis

The Linux Foundation will offer discounts from HP, Dell and Lenovo plus a @linux.com email address in a bid to lure individuals to become members.
A non-profit consortium which sponsors the work of Linux creator Linus Torvalds, the Foundation is supported by leading Linux and open source companies and developers from around the world.

Membership costs $US99 and individual members can get up to 40 percent off of Lenovo devices and standard employee purchase pricing from Dell and HP, a media release from the foundation said.

Existing members would have to pay US150 to keep their @linux.com email addresses while new members would have to pay $US249 which will cover the first year's membership and the lifetime email address.

Students can obtain student-class membership for $US25 per year.

“Our individual members are the heartbeat of the Linux Foundation and we will continue to find ways to extend special benefits to them,” Jim Zemlin, executive director, was quoted a saying. “Perks like the employee purchase discounts from Dell, HP and Lenovo and lifetime Linux.com email addresses are unique things we can offer to sustain support for Linux.”

The Foundation also organises a number of conferences each year. It has branches in Japan, South Korea and Europe and the Middle East.