*the following is from www.nationalpost.com (link found from NewsForge)*
October 12, 2000
Microsoft using Corel to ease into Linux, documents hint
US$135M injection
David Akin
Financial Post
Corel Corp. may be the tool Microsoft Corp. uses to ease itself into the
open source community, according to regulatory documents filed late
yesterday.
In a 531-page document filed by Ottawa-based Corel with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Corel said it has granted
Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft the option to direct Corel to port part or
all of Microsoft's next-generation .NET architecture to run on the
Linux operating system.
Linux is the open source operating system widely seen as a credible and
serious rival to Microsoft's server operating systems, particularly
Microsoft NT and Microsoft 2000 Server.
Moreover, the Linux and Microsoft software development philosophies are
diametrical opposites. With Linux, an army of Internet-connected volunteer
programmers share the source code, improve it and pass on improvements to
that source code, all under the stewardship of Linus
Torvalds. Microsoft, on the other hand, uses a proprietary development
model in which source code and development strategies are
fiercely guarded secrets and viewed only by Microsoft employees.
Last week, Microsoft said it would invest US$135-million in cash-strapped
Corel. In exchange, Corel said it would commit to developing products
consistent with Microsoft's next-generation .NET architecture.
But it is now clear Microsoft will use its investment with Corel -- which
distributes its own version of Linux and has converted some of its
software products like WordPerfect to run on Linux -- to ease into the
Linux community. Neither Corel nor Microsoft officials could be reached
last night for comment.
In the event Microsoft exercises its option -- and the option runs for
three years -- to have Corel port part or all of the .NET architecture to
Linux, Corel has agreed to put 20 full-time developers and 10 full-time
testers on the project.
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
