“While 1998 was the year of the Linux bandwagon, 1999 is fast
becoming the year vendors start delivering on their promises.
This means a steady stream of Linux ports and bundles are coming
down the pike, translating into a more potent arsenal of building
blocks for value-added resellers — many of whom are eager to start
cranking out freeware-based solutions.
Triggering the biggest waves so far among channel players have
been promises of Linux ports from database vendors Oracle Corp. and
IBM Corp., server vendor Netscape Communications Corp., and
groupware vendor Lotus Development Corp. While the Oracle8 database
was ported in October, the other heavyweight software makers are
aiming for Linux releases sometime later this year.”