Red Hat, IBM Going After Emerging Markets

Linux and solutions based on that platform will get the big push as the two firms go after the biggest emerging global markets.

The two firms jointly released a statement on their new initiative. Developers in India, China, Russia, and Korea will be the focus of targeted technical resources and other assistance, aimed at growing the implementation of Linux in their enterprises.

The intent will be to find firms with existing applications utilizing “proprietary operating environments” and help them port the applications to Linux. Red Hat plans to provide copies of Enterprise Linux to independent software vendors, and offer access to support via the Red Hat Network.

IBM’s efforts will come from the Innovation Centers they have in place in countries around the world. Existing centers in Moscow, Seoul, Bangalore, and Shanghai, among others, will provide consulting and technical support. IBM also offers 29 new skill-building tutorials on Linux via its developerWorks web site.

The potential for growth, coupled with the ability to provide solutions based on open standards, could lead to substantial profits as those markets develop. The statement cites an IDC study from August where industry sales of Linux servers passed $1 billion in revenue for the fourth consecutive quarter.

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.