The Open Learning Centre

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Aug 05, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- For the first time, IBM, and leading Linux distributors Canonical/Ubuntu, Novell and Red Hat will join forces globally with their hardware partners to deliver Microsoft-free personal computing choices with Lotus Notes and Lotus Symphony in the one billion-unit desktop market worldwide by 2009.

In a widely reported press release this marks a real milestone in the ascendancy of Linux as a competitive desktop operating system. The Marketwatch article includes comments such as:

"The slow adoption of Vista among businesses and budget-conscious CIOs, coupled with the proven success of a new type of Microsoft-free PC in every region, provides an extraordinary window of opportunity for Linux," said Kevin Cavanaugh, vice president for IBM Lotus Software. "We'll work to unlock the desktop to save our customers money and give freedom of choice by offering this industry-leading solution."

This is especially relevant for The Open Learning Centre as an Ubuntu Solution Partner for Canonical, which sells subscription support for Ubuntu, a Linux operating system that scores high marks on usability and "the cool factor," will re-distribute Lotus Symphony via their repositories. Symphony 1.1 will be available through the Ubuntu repositories by the end of August. General availability will coincide with the Lotus Symphony 1.2 release expected to be available by the end of October 2008."

The full press release can be read here: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/ibm-canonicalubuntu-novell-red-hat/story.aspx