Open-Xchange Inc, maker of the world`s leading open source collaboration server, today announced it has signed an agreement with Novell to begin selling SUSE Linux Enterprise Server bundled with its Open-Xchange (OX) Server. Open-Xchange also enters Novell`s Technology Partner Programme and will receive selling, marketing and development support.
Open-Xchange`s technology serves as the engine behind Novell`s award-winning SUSE Linux Openexchange Server.
This agreement clarifies the relationship between the two open source partners, and allows Open-Xchange to offer OX for distributions beyond Novell.
"When we released our first standalone commercial product, Open-Xchange 5, last month, we predicted a fair amount of traction, but we have been overwhelmed by the hundreds of customers and hundreds of partners who have now become part of the Open-Xchange ecosystem," said Frank Hoberg, CEO, Open-Xchange Inc. "By decoupling Open-Xchange from a single distribution, customers get greater flexibility and true open source choices - while still enabling us to support and upgrade existing SUSE Linux Openexchange customers. SUSE and Novell have been strong supporters and partners of Open-Xchange and we see this change as a further strengthening of those bonds."
"Open-Xchange`s agreement to offer SUSE Linux Enterprise to its customers and partners clearly demonstrates their commitment to Novell," said Petra Heinrich, VP of Partner Programs. In addition, through Novell`s technology Partner Programme, Novell will continue to support Open-Xchange Inc in go-to-market activities."
OX 5 maintenance and support includes migration tools for existing SUSE Linux Openexchange customers, and exclusively will be provided by Open-Xchange Inc and its worldwide partner network. In the last two months more than 120 partners joined the Open-Xchange partner network - from small partners providing services for the small business market to global system integrators and ISVs (independent software vendors).
Open-Xchange enables easy migration and integration to an open source environment - allowing IT administrators to create and implement killer-apps without changing existing infrastructure components, ie databases, directory services, message transfer agents, e-mail servers or Web servers.
"Users of open source server components are accustomed to a high level of freedom from entanglements, of setting their own course and timetable - rather than being dependent on a vendor`s whim," said Dana Gardner, principal analyst, Interarbor Solutions. "With this announcement, Open-Xchange is furthering its high level of independence, and is clarifying the boundaries in the open source collaboration product space."
Because Open-Xchange easily integrates into complex heterogeneous environments, businesses can implement an open source strategy using Open-Xchange Server on the back-end -- while continuing to use proprietary clients like Outlook on the front-end. The company gets all the benefits of open source without disrupting end-users.
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