PR: Mandrakesoft Announces 2005 Roadmap, New Version Naming Scheme

Mandrakesoft, publisher of the Mandrakelinux operating system,
today announced adjustments in the 2005 Mandrakelinux release
schedule. Several changes will occur: (1) a new release cycle for
retail products, (2) a new naming scheme, (3) the integration of
Conectiva’s technology into Mandrakelinux, and (4) the immediate
availability of a transitional product.

These changes are motivated by several factors:

1. Requests from partners and distributors for a more convenient
   release cycle; for a long time, distributors and resellers have
   asked us to adopt a longer release cycle that is more adapted to
   their specific constraints.
2. Requests from users and customer for a greater investment of
   time into the development of new features and functions.
3. The opportunity, following the Mandrakesoft-Conectiva merger,
   to build an exciting new product that will integrate the best
   features from each of these distributions.

As a result, the new release cycle for products will be annual.
This change fulfills the requirements of our channel partners and
will give us more time to invest in technology.

Taking into account this new schedule, product naming will
henceforth be based on year names. The next release will be in the
fall and will be named “2006.”

Additionally, Mandrakesoft has decided to release a transitional
version of Mandrakelinux in spring 2005. Built on the current
Mandrakelinux development branch, this version will provide
up-to-date and newly released open source software, including KDE
3.3, GNOME 2.8 and Firefox 1.0.1. This special version will be
available as a DVD and a CD set through Mandrakestore and
Mandrakeclub and as a download, but not through retail
channels.

The transitional version will be called “Limited Edition
2005”.

Later, by fall of this year, the new boxed “2006” release will
fully integrate Conectiva technology and Mandrakesoft online
services into a new product. It will be released through
traditional retail channels as well as by direct sale from
Mandrakestore and Mandrakeclub, and will offer all support options
and related services.

François Bancilhon, CEO of Mandrakesoft, explained: “We
needed a transitional version to give us the time to ensure good
integration of the Conectiva technology into Mandrakelinux. That’s
the reason why we chose to release this ‘Limited Edition 2005.’
Additionally, we decided to change the way we name the versions,
because our users needed to better identify our releases. As a
result, we choose a new yearly release scheme.”

Both the Limited Edition 2005 and the 2006 version will be
released in 32-bit and 64-bit editions.

2005 Roadmap Sumary:

Name: “Limited Edition 2005”
Expected date of release: Spring 2005
Technology: Based on current development branch
Support & Services: No
Release Channels: Mandrakeclub, Mandrakestore (DVD + 6 CD set)

Name: “2006”
Expected date of release: Fall 2005
Technology: Integrates Conectiva technology
Support & Services: Full
Release channels: Mandrakeclub, Mandrakestore, retail (DVD,
Packs…)