[GLLUG] FW: A Landmark Announcement

Thu Nov 2 19:54:07 EST 2006

After I wiped the coffee from my computer screen, I thought I'd forward
this, since there are quite a few Novell users in our group.

-Nick

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From: Ron Hovsepian [mailto:RHovsepian at novell.com] 
Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2006 6:30 PM
To: quetwo at hostingplace.net
Subject: A Landmark Announcement

 <http://novellevents.novell.com/t/1449697/51115370/61/0/>
<http://novellevents.novell.com/t/1449697/51115370/61/0/> Novell
<http://novellevents.novell.com/t/1449697/51115370/61/0/> 

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02 November 2006 

 Novell & Microsoft Collaborate - Customers Win.
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Today, Microsoft and Novell announced an historic new initiative. Important
primarily because it means a lot to the communities we serve. Most notably,
our customers. ( <http://novellevents.novell.com/t/1449697/51115370/2401/0/>
See full press release).

Let me begin by quickly outlining what we just announced. Microsoft and
Novell, starting today, have agreed to build and market solutions so that
Novell's technology works on Microsoft and vice versa. Specifically,
customers will now be able to run virtualized SUSE Linux Enterprise on
Windows or Windows on SUSE Linux Enterprise. This landmark agreement also
calls for both Microsoft and Novell to provide patent coverage to each
others' customers for our respective products. Why is that important? It's
important because you shouldn't have to spend a lot of time worrying about
legal matters around which operating system to choose. You also shouldn't
have to worry about barriers such as intellectual property agreements, who
owns which patent portfolio, and indemnification. None of those issues move
your business forward. Now many of those barriers have been removed.

I am also proud that earlier today Novell and Microsoft demonstrated, by our
words and actions, that we can work together for the mutual benefit of our
customers. Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's CEO, was very passionate and genuine
in his support for this agreement. He spoke about how it will help our
customers leverage both the Microsoft Windows platform as well as our SUSE
Linux Enterprise platform. He mentioned how it will give customers like you
choice and flexibility in building their technology environment. Choice and
flexibility, something our customers often complain are in short supply.
We're determined to change that.

I'd like to build on what Steve said, and today I had the opportunity to
make some of these points in person to the assembled press, analysts and
industry experts. This agreement between us and Microsoft is a key
cornerstone to our overall Novell promise to deliver the open enterprise to
you, our customers. One where we can leverage a mixed environment- with open
source and open standards based software- on your behalf. It's an agreement
that will accelerate Novell's stated goal of helping you reduce cost, manage
complexity and mitigate risk. 

I titled this a "landmark" announcement, and I truly believe it is.
Transformational in its scope and important to us and our customers on a
number of levels. You may wonder how this changes our relationship with
Microsoft. It's no secret we've competed with them in the past. And we still
will. However, it's also important for us all to remind ourselves that all
organizations, particularly in our industry, need to adapt and change.
Further, for whatever differences we've had with Microsoft over the years,
we actually share a number of the same values. A strong belief in building
customer solutions, and an unwavering belief in the power of technology and
innovation. And now, with this announcement, the ability for you to deploy
the applications you want on the operating system of your choice for a total
solution. All in a way that best fits your business needs.

This is the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for Novell. We know you
want technology that features interoperability, choice, flexibility, and
sustainability. We know you like to see your vendors working together on
YOUR behalf. In fact, that is what this Microsoft/Novell agreement is all
about. Working together to do a better job for you.

I'm truly excited about this transformational announcement. The payoff will
be better results where it counts most. On helping you grow and innovate,
and in turn delivering on your promise to the communities you serve.

Best regards,

Ron Hovsepian
CEO, Novell

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Copyright 2006 Novell, Inc. All rights reserved. Novell is a registered
trademark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. This
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 <http://novellevents.novell.com/t/1449697/51115370/2401/0/> Read the
official Novell press release   

 <http://novellevents.novell.com/t/1449697/51115370/2402/0/> Watch the
recorded webcast   

 <http://novellevents.novell.com/t/1449697/51115370/2403/0/> For more
information   

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