Johannesburg, 15 Mar 2005
IBM SA has opened what it claims is Africa`s first Linux Centre of Competence at the Wits University Johannesburg campus.
The centre, which IBM aims to use to boost adoption of open source software and open standards, was launched in partnership with Novell, Wits University, Obsidian and SAP.
It will feature computers running Linux and be available for use by students and business partners for research and development purposes.
Mark Harris, IBM country GM for South and Central Africa, says the decision to launch the centre was based on IBM SA`s commitment to Linux and open source platforms.
IBM says the City of Johannesburg will play a pivotal role in the Linux centre through the synergies between it and the Johannesburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE). The JCSE is part of SA`s drive to create a critical mass of software research and development skills.
"Linux is a perfect platform in that it can run on any hardware and can integrate functions using the same operating system and is a great platform for the production of software and services," says Carol Stafford, IBM president of worldwide Linux sales.
"Linux is also an excellent path to on-demand computing as it is flexible, secure, reliable, drives business goals, reduces cost and improves application service levels," says Stafford.
IBM plans to establish a similar Linux Centre of Competence at the University of Cape Town next month.
Share