"IBM nearly recouped the $1 billion it said it invested in the
Linux operating system in 2001, the head of IBM's four server
groups is expected to announce Wednesday.
"Big Blue said more than a year ago that it would invest $1
billion in Linux--spending money on tasks such as bringing the Unix
clone to its full line of servers, bringing its broad software
portfolio to Linux, training its services and consulting personnel,
and placing advertisements such as full-page ads in major daily
newspapers.
"'We've recouped most of it in the first year in sales of
software and systems,' Bill Zeitler, head of the server group, said
in an interview before his keynote speech Wednesday at the
LinuxWorld Conference and Expo. 'We think it was money well spent.
Almost all of it, we got back.'..."
