WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. and
Novell Inc. are announcing an incremental investment in their relationship to
meet accelerating customer demand for their business model solution, which is
designed to build a bridge between open source and proprietary software to
deliver interoperability and intellectual property (IP) peace of mind for
organizations operating mixed-source IT environments.
The investment focuses on enhanced programs from Novell to provide tools,
support, training and resources for customers seeking an enterprise-class
Linux* platform and specifically, the optimal interoperability solution
between Microsoft Windows Server and SUSE(R) Linux Enterprise Server from
Novell(R). It also includes Microsoft's commitment to purchase up to $100
million in certificates that those customers can redeem for expanded support
from Novell that includes SUSE Linux Enterprise Server support and support for
moving toward an enterprise-class Linux platform. The investments will take
effect Nov. 1, 2008, and between now and then Microsoft and Novell will
solicit customer input and identify aspects of the support programs that will
be most useful to organizations running mixed-source environments.
Customer response to the Microsoft-Novell model has been significant since
it began in November 2006. As part of the initial five-year partnership
agreement, Microsoft purchased $240 million of Novell certificates to sell to
customers. Within 18 months, Novell invoiced more than $157 million in
certificate revenues, or 65 percent of the original allotment. Customers who
have already taken advantage of this opportunity to seamlessly run both
Windows Server and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server include Wal-Mart Stores Inc.,
HSBC Holdings, Renault, Southwest Airlines Co., BMW and many other leading
companies around the world.
"The collaboration between Microsoft and Novell has been built on our
desire to meet our customers' real-life IT requirements as well as give our
partners greater breadth in their solution offerings," said Kevin Turner,
chief operating officer at Microsoft. "Some customers have told us they want
to be able to run Windows Server and Linux together seamlessly, but in many
cases, they need help with the transition to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server from
other Linux environments. Our increased investment in the relationship with
Novell is intended to give these customers and partners the best possible
Windows-Linux interoperability solution, while also extending their existing
Windows Server investments and helping to give them IP peace of mind."
"Cross-platform interoperability is something that we all want and need to
achieve. But it's difficult to accomplish this," said Ulrich Koch, Head of
License Management T-Systems Enterprise Services. "The pragmatic approach
Microsoft and Novell are taking to address this complex challenge, including
IP assurance, through engineering as well as offering tangible support and
training programs, will make it easier for us to develop a path forward."
"The strategic partnership between our companies continues to attract
customers by building a bridge between proprietary and open source software,"
said Ron Hovsepian, president and CEO of Novell. "The interoperability
delivered by Microsoft and Novell has resulted in very high demand for SUSE
Linux Enterprise from customers and channel partners, further validating
Novell's Linux strategy."
With today's announcement of the enhanced relationship, customers will
continue to realize unprecedented choice and flexibility of running both SUSE
Linux Enterprise Server and Windows Server with the confidence that both
operating systems will work together seamlessly in the datacenter. Novell and
Microsoft, through their joint interoperability lab in Cambridge, Mass., and
other initiatives, will continue their close technical collaboration on a wide
variety of solutions including virtualization, systems management, directory
and identity federation, document format compatibility, accessibility
technology, and the Moonlight multimedia framework.
Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers the best engineered, most
interoperable Linux platform and a portfolio of integrated IT management
software that helps customers around the world reduce cost, complexity and
risk. With our infrastructure software and ecosystem of partnerships, Novell
harmoniously integrates mixed IT environments, allowing people and technology
to work as one. For more information, visit http://www.novell.com.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their
full potential.
Novell and SUSE are registered trademarks of Novell Inc. in the U.S. and
other countries.
*Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
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