[LUNI] MSFT to partner with Novell

[Michael Labowicz]

April Fools!

On 11/2/06, Cedrick Johnson <cedrickj at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >From Reuters:
> "SEATTLE, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. MSFT Chief
> Executive Steve Ballmer will make a major technology industry
> announcement later on Thursday, the company said.
>     A news conference will take place at 2 p.m. PST/2200 GMT in
> San Francisco.  Microsoft did not disclose more details about
> the content of the announcement."
>
> 14:04 11/02 *WSJ: Microsoft Entering Partnership With Novell - Sources >
> 14:07 11/02 *WSJ: Microsoft To Offer Sales Support For Novell System < >
>
> By Robert A. Guth
> Of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
>   Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) is entering an unusual partnership with Novell
> Inc.
> (NOVL) that gives a boost to the Linux operating system, a rival to the
> software giant's Windows software, people familiar with the companies told
> The
> Wall Street Journal Thursday.
>   Under the pact, which isn't final, Microsoft will offer sales support of
> Suse
> Linux, a version of the operating system sold by Novell. The two companies
> have
> also agreed to develop technologies to make it easier for users to run
> both
> Suse Linux and Microsoft's Windows on their computers. The two companies
> are
> expected to announce details of their plan Thursday at a press conference
> in
> San Francisco.
>   In addition, Microsoft won't assert rights over patents over software
> technology that may be incorporated into Suse Linux, the people said.
> Businesses that use Linux have long worried that Microsoft would one day
> file
> patent infringement suits against sellers of the rival software.
>   (This story and related background material will be available on The
> Wall
> Street Journal Web site, WSJ.com.)
>   The pact marks an unusual level of cooperation between two longtime
> rivals.
> Microsoft has been battling all versions of Linux, but has faced pressure
> to
> assure that customers can run both Windows and Linux without problems.
>   By forging a peace pact with one seller of Linux, Microsoft could raise
> pressure on Red Hat Inc. (RHAT), the leading provider of Linux, and a
> Novell
> rival. Last week, Oracle Corp. (ORCL) announced that it would start
> selling
> its
> own support for Red Hat's version of Linux, a plan that undercuts Red
> Hat's
> own
> business, which is based on providing support and maintenance. Red Hat's
> shares
> fell sharply after that announcement.
>   Novell, originally known for a network operating system called NetWare,
> has
> also scrapped with Microsoft over sales of desktop application programs
> after
> Novell bought Wordperfect Corp. and rights to the Quattro Pro spreadsheet
> for
> more than $1.4 billion. Partly because of stiff competition from
> Microsoft,
> Novell later sold those products for about $170 million; it filed an
> antitrust
> suit in 2004 against Microsoft, seeking damages related to the tactics
> Microsoft used in the applications-software market.
>   Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer is in San Francisco to announce
> the
> pact. Spokesmen for Microsoft and Novell couldn't be reached for comment.
>

-- 
Michael Labowicz
http://www.labowicz.com/blog/