InformationWeek Daily 03/02/99 (fwd)

[Bruce Smith <bruce@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

TOP STORIES

___Linux Rally Continues___
Linux continues to gain momentum and credibility as it 
receives increasing support from dominant industry vendors. 
Hewlett-Packard and SAP yesterday each touted individual 
efforts to increase offerings on the platform, starting off 
what promises to be a big week for Linux-related 
announcements.

Beefing up its efforts to speed the adoption of Linux in the 
enterprise and Internet software development arena, HP 
outlined a new organization designated to develop tools and 
technologies for applications deployed on Linux, Windows NT, 
or HP-UX systems. The Open Source Solutions Operation will be 
a subdivision of HP's Internet and applications systems unit. 
According to HP, Linux is becoming the platform of choice, 
particularly in the E-commerce and ISP market, and therefore 
the company intends to make Linux a key part of its 
operating-system strategy. The company also plans to provide 
services, training, and electronic support for developers and 
system administrators using Linux. HP earlier this month 
integrated Linux into its NetServer and IA-64 architecture 
systems.

SAP also jumped on the Linux train yesterday, outlining plans 
to offer its R/3 enterprise application on the open platform 
by the third quarter. The company says it is responding to 
demands by its customers to include the platform in its ERP 
offerings. SAP will be joined by several of its hardware and 
software partners when it presents a full-scale offering of 
Linux systems, tools, databases, and support services next 
week at the CeBit 99 conference in Hanover, Germany.

Today also promises to be a big day for the platform, as 
companies including Computer Associates, IBM, and Intel are 
preparing to make Linux development announcements and to 
outline partnerships with Linux software distributors Caldera 
Systems, Red Hat Software, and VA Research.  -- Eileen Colkin

***For more on Linux, see "Can't Beat Linux? SCO Joins 'Em"
http://www.informationweek.com/723/23olsg.htm