IBM, Canonical/Ubuntu, Novell, Red Hat to Deliver Microsoft-Free Desktops Worldwide

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Aug 05 (MARKET WIRE) --
For the first time, IBM (NYSE: 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.

Citing shifting market forces and the growing demand for economical
alternatives to costly Windows and Office-based computers, the four
leaders sense an ideal set of circumstances allowing Linux-based desktops
to proliferate in the coming year. Linux is far more profitable for a PC
vendor and the operating system is better equipped to work with lower cost
hardware than new Microsoft technology.

"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."

The four leaders are working with their local business partners in markets
around the world to build and distribute a pre-loaded PC offering that
features IBM's Open Collaboration Client Solution (OCCS)
(http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/lotus/library/occs-overview/) including
Lotus Notes, Lotus Symphony and Lotus Sametime; the Linux operating system
of each distributor; and software applications and installation services
from the local partners in each market. The final product will be branded
by the local IT firms that bring it to market. In addition, customers,
independent software vendors (ISVs) and systems integrators have the
choice of developing applications using Lotus Expeditor based on the open
source Eclipse programming model.

These solutions would be tailored to the needs of customers in specific
industries and sectors. For example, one type of solution for government
buyers may support key ISV applications for document/case management,
crisis management, and citizen services. Another version for Banks would
account for support for virtual thin clients that bring together the
infrastructure and applications along with Lotus social software for
branch bank front office and contact center transformation. The emphasis
for use in schools would be giving students and faculty a low cost open
platform that can capitalize on the strengths of Lotus collaboration and
social software. Understanding of such distinct customer preferences has
been accumulated from customized, local engagements around the world.

"IBM software and Linux on desktop combined is not just a better
price/performance substitute for the Microsoft offering, but it provides a
new platform for customers and business partners to add true value by
creating tailor-made solutions," said Milan Prohaska, General Manager of
Austria-based VDEL. "The combined power of Eclipse and Lotus -- offered in
a stable and secure Linux environment at less then half the cost of the
equivalent Microsoft offering -- will create a new ecosystem for solution
providers and developers, and set new standards in value-for-the-money for
the customers."

IBM and its Linux partners are inspired by the success of this Linux-based
package locally in both established and developing markets. Austrian IT
firm VDEL debuted the first such offering named OpenReferent in Eastern
Europe earlier this year with IBM's OCCS on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. The
reception, particularly in the expansive Russian market, was very strong.
Diverse commercial and government organizations such as Russia Post
(Russian postal service) and Rushotel have piloted and phased in the new
desktops, saving 30-35 percent of the cost of the Microsoft equivalent.
VDEL has extended OpenReferent to include IBM Tivoli desktop management
and security capabilities as well.

"We are pleased with the uptake among customers including enterprises,
governments, small businesses, and partners adopting OCCS powered by Red
Hat's enterprise Linux desktop," said Scott Crenshaw, Vice President,
Platform Business Unit at Red Hat. "Customers are demanding a
Microsoft-less PC, and we have responded with our reliable, secure Linux
solution through our top channel partners worldwide, building on the
success we've seen in Eastern Europe and other markets."

Novell launched a similar solution based on IBM's collaboration software
and SUSE Linux Enterprise with Avnet UK, the largest IT distributor in the
United Kingdom, and its local business partners.

"Novell is excited to partner with IBM to drive desktop innovation and
deliver the open collaboration client solution to enterprises worldwide,"
said Roger Levy, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Open
Platform Solutions at Novell. "As the best-engineered and most
interoperable Linux from the desktop to the data center, SUSE Linux
Enterprise is a strong fit for IBM. The unique combination of IBM's Lotus
software powered by SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop enables enterprises to
strengthen security, improve flexibility, and dramatically lower costs
compared to Vista. In addition, deployment is made very easy with a
seamless one-click installation feature."

The popularity of IBM OCCS on each Linux variant has grown dramatically in
the past year. Thousands of people are working today on OCCS-powered Linux
PCs across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. In North America,
public school systems, local governments and IT firms such as the
Government of Quebec Ministry of service, CSS Corp. and IBM itself rely on
OCCS. In Europe, customers include Radbound University in Netherlands;
Constructora San Jose of Spain; and Dotriver in France, among others. In
the eastern hemisphere, Safran Aerospace of India, SMB Outsourcing Park of
China and Kennards Hire (manufacturing) of Australia are among the growing
legions of MS-free advocates.

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.

"We are excited about distributing Lotus Symphony from Canonical online
store," said Malcom Yates, Vice President, Canonical. "Open Collaboration
Client Solution powered by Ubuntu that includes Lotus Notes and Symphony
gives us the opportunity to deliver a complete Microsoft desktop
alternative to our customers. We look forward to working with our hardware
partners to expand their solution offerings."

Value Added Distributors (VAD) and resellers will be offering the IBM Open
Collaboration Client Solution to their customers worldwide. For example
more than 12 VADs worldwide are offering OCCS powered by SUSE Linux
Enterprise Desktop from Novell to their resellers. Examples include Arrow
in the US and Avnet in the UK. Some, such as VDEL, combined OCCS powered
by RedHat with their own applications. Systems Integrators such as CSScorp
offer required services.

Contact:
Mike Azzi
914-766-1561
azzi@us.ibm.com

Copyright 2008, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

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