“Even as Big Blue pushes Linux into the mainstream, some
executives from major Linux companies are grumbling behind the
scenes. “Linux helps IBM sell things, but IBM doesn’t really help
the Linux companies,” says a senior executive at one Linux
firm.”
“IBM’s recent decision to invest $1 billion in Linux development
in 2000 gave some Linux stocks a shot in the arm, but several of
IBM’s Linux allies are not happy with their respective business
arrangements with Big Blue.”
“Linux executives, speaking on a condition of anonymity, say
the current way of doing business with IBM is not as lucrative as
they thought it would be. For instance, Red Hat, SuSE and
TurboLinux believe they are not being well-compensated for agreeing
to support IBM’s complete eServer line. At least one executive
at SuSE, which supplied the mainframe Linux for a major ISP
installation at Telia, says the company will be unable to recoup
the costs of creating and supporting S/390 Linux under the existing
deal.”