Microsoft-Novell take open-source software alliance to China

Important news since many in health care are also incorporating Linux as an offering with support...the key here is "support"...which is what any market needs today...BD

The firms said they are putting "particular emphasis" on China because increasingly sophisticated businesses rely on combinations of software based on Microsoft's Windows operating systems and non-proprietary Linux systems.
The companies are marketing "supported Linux" in which they take a fee to maintain software systems blending the open-source programs with Microsoft products such as Vista, Office, Excel and Outlook. Novell reports it has invoiced 141 million dollars in "SUSE Linux Enterprise Server subscriptions" during the collaboration with Microsoft.
"This is a pragmatic approach to there being a mix of platforms out there. This is a bridge between proprietary and open source. In the end customers want to have software running, certified, secure and 7-by-24 support."