“The launch of new Linux products by IBM, Compaq, and Borland
last week underscores increased commercial acceptance of Linux, yet
solution providers remain on the fray of the action. To stimulate
interest, one of the founders of Linux distributor Caldera Systems
Inc. (stock: CALD) plans to launch a B-to-B marketplace in March
called PartnerAxis that is designed to link Linux solution
providers with manufacturers and customers.”
“Dean Taylor, executive vice president and founder of
PartnerAxis, said his history is with Caldera but the B-to-B site
will support all leading Linux distributions, including those of
Caldera, Red Hat Inc. (stock: RHAT), SuSE Linux AG, and TurboLinux
Inc. Caldera last summer agreed to acquire the assets of the former
Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) and its Unix-heavy channel.”
“We deliver the Linux channel,” said Taylor, who added that
the database includes names of 100,000 solution providers that have
expressed an interest in Linux. “There are 30,000 Linux VARs out
there. The website is about delivering solutions on Linux. There is
no one site on the Internet where [a customer] can find all Linux
[solution providers] and distribution vendors.”