“Despite a slumping stock price, Red Hat CEO and president
Matthew Szulik expects partners to get squarely behind the Linux
software company, so much, in fact, that they will tip the balance
of software sales generated by the Research Triangle Park, N.C.,
company to third parties.”
“In an exclusive interview on Friday before Christmas, Szulik
told VARBusiness Magazine that he expects to increase the percent
of Red Hat sales completed by third-party partners to 50-60 percent
of overall sales from 20-25 percent, the current level today.
Szulik gave no timetable for the change, but did say that
increasing sales through third parties will be a priority in 2001.
“The numbers aren’t where I would like them to be,” he says. “Our
business is totally based on leverage, so I would like to see those
numbers up around 50-60 percent.”
“Looking ahead, he believes that the recently launched Red Hat
Network, which is an Internet-based service to develop, deploy and
manage software platforms, will attract ASPs, hosting companies and
MSPs. One prototype partner already on board with the company:
Rackspace of Texas. “It’s one of largest Linux-based hosting
companies in the U.S., and we are looking to expand our
relationship with them through the Red Hat Network,” he adds.”