“Intel has invested in eSoft, a maker of Linux-based servers for
small businesses, the chip giant’s fourth Linux investment. The
announcement at Comdex here pushed eSoft’s stock up more than 58
percent in midday trading. The stock rose 4.75 to 12.88, an
all-time high since the company began public trading in 1998.
The amount of the investment wasn’t disclosed. Under a deal with
Intel also announced today, Intel will help the company develop
software for Linux servers designed to be used on the
Internet.”
“Intel’s first Linux investment was in Red Hat, the leading
seller of the Unix-like operating system. Since then, Intel also
has invested in VA Linux Systems, a maker of Linux computers that
is about to go public, and in TurboLinux, another Linux seller
whose strategy is to add proprietary software on top of the
operating system. The investments mark the continuing strategy
of Intel in incubating Linux as one of the operating systems that
runs on Intel chips.”