News item....... INTEL, NETSCAPE EYE RED HAT SOFTWARE Intel Corp. and Netscape Communications have been named as "potential backers" for Red Hat Software, a company that distributes a commercial version of the Linux operating system. No one involved in the deal is talking about it at this point, but industry observers say the move would give Linux a major boost toward becoming a mainstream alternative to Microsoft operating systems. Netscape recently agreed to provide a Linux version of its server software. Intel, in the meantime, wants to keep its options open by investing in operating environments other than its mainstay Wintel alliance. "Intel and Microsoft, regardless of what both companies say, they don't have the closest relationship," says a research director at Giga Information Group. "But I think this has more to do with Intel's generic investment policy, which has them investing irrespective of whether these companies are competing with Microsoft or not. This investment would be consistent with past investments in that it enables a market for Intel and provides a potential for growth that wouldn't exist otherwise." (Computer Reseller News 29 Sep 98) - ***************************************************** * Paul Neal | [EMAIL PROTECTED] * * ------------- | http://tscnet.com/pages/pneal/ * * Bremerton, WA | [EMAIL PROTECTED] * *****************************************************
