IBM Rolls Out New Desktop Software

By NewsFactor Network | February 13, 2007

This week, IBM unveiled a new desktop software system designed to assist companies in boosting collaboration and productivity while reducing software costs. Big Blue said the system, called Open Client Solution, will let customers run the same mix of software products on Mac, Linux, and Windows PCs.

IBM said it did a major road test of sorts by first doing an internal desktop deployment of Open Client Solution in which the company’s employees were involved in the one of the largest Linux desktop tests to date.

One of the main advantages of using IBM’s Open Client Solution is the lack of vendor lock-in, IBM stated. Customers will be able to choose technologies and applications not only from IBM but also from other companies, and will be able to run those applications on the operating system of their choice.

Vendor Neutral

These applications, which will run on Windows, Red Hat Desktop Linux, or SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, initially will include the Firefox Web browser, Lotus Notes and Lotus Domino, Lotus Sametime, IBM WebSphere Portal 6, and productivity tools that support the Oasis Open Document Format.

The services in the new offering include functionality for desktop management and application migration and are focused on helping customers implement standards-based systems more effectively. The services will be provided by Linux distributors Novell and Red Hat.

In rolling out Open Client Solutions, IBM is meeting a market demand, said Scott Handy, vice president of worldwide Linux and open source at IBM.

Increasingly, I.T. departments are implementing software and systems from multiple vendors, and need a way to link those components together. IBM believes that software and tools based on open standards are the key for creating better security and interoperability, Handy said.

Penguin Love

IBM has made several moves in the past to leverage Linux’s functionality, and has long seen Linux use…

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