[LUNI] Novell Linux Business Spikes Since Microsoft Deal

[Branko Kotur]

It's probably more on the business side.  I think MS has to sell "coupons" 
(which it buys from Novell) for Novell which can be used to purchase Linux or 
support from Novell.  

On Thursday 27 September 2007 1:31:55 pm Mike Scott wrote:
> Not sure why the increase.  Most Novell users that i talked to (myself
> included) have moved to other distros.
>
> http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/09/27/1239251
>
> StonyandCher writes "Novell's divisive deal with Microsoft has
> apparently resulted in some financial success for the company. PC World
> is now reporting that the company's Linux business has risen about 250%
> since the deal was announced last November. From the article: '[Novell
> director of marketing Justin Steinman] said part of its growth was
> directly related to the Microsoft deal, adding that Novell has billed
> more than US$100 million in business through its Microsoft relationship.
> He added that the growth was also due to the halo effect of the
> arrangement. "When we're out there competing with Red Hat, [our
> salespeople] are saying, 'Our Linux is recommended by Microsoft,' and
> customers that already have a Windows investment say it seems to make
> sense to pick the Linux that works with Windows."'"
>
> - Mike Scott