Linuxcare and Sun Microsystems Team Up to Deliver Enterprise-Class Services for StarOffice on Linux

In a move that is set to bolster the capabilities of Sun Microsystems' recently acquired StarOffice productivity suite on Linux, Linuxcare, Inc., the pioneering provider of comprehensive Linux technical services to Global 1000 companies, has announced an agreement with Sun to offer a range of enterprise-class services.

The collaboration between the two tech giants is expected to bring significant benefits to enterprise Linux environments. Fernand Sarrat, President and CEO of Linuxcare, expressed his enthusiasm for the deal, stating, "Sun's adoption of StarOffice is an astute move that will be warmly welcomed by Linux users in the enterprise."

Linuxcare's services will include end-user and developer technical support, custom development, enterprise integration, migration, and rollout, as well as customized training. These offerings build upon Linuxcare's renowned Linux technical support, professional services, training, and product certification. The company supports all leading versions of Linux, including those from Caldera, Debian, Red Hat, SuSE, TurboLinux, UltraLinux, and others.

StarOffice, which offers tightly integrated word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, a database interface, and more, has become the preferred productivity solution for Linux users. Sun's acquisition of StarOffice brings some exciting advancements to the platform. The suite will now be available as a free download with source code available royalty-free for non-commercial use, while commercial software developers will pay a royalty to Sun. Additionally, a "Portal" version of StarOffice will enable users to access its functionality over the Web through a Java-enabled Web browser. Both versions will be fully supported on Linux, Solaris, and Windows NT.

Gene Banman, Sun Microsystems' Vice President and General Manager of Information Appliances and Application Software, expressed his satisfaction with the agreement, stating, "We're pleased that Linuxcare will offer market-leading Linux services for Sun's StarOffice for Linux." The deal is expected to increase support for StarOffice in the Linux community and provide the highest quality customer experience with Linux solutions in the enterprise.

With this partnership, Sun's commitment to the goals of the Open-Source movement becomes increasingly clear. Founded in 1982, Sun Microsystems has been a leading provider of hardware, software, and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. Linuxcare, on the other hand, is the first company to provide a complete solution for Linux technical support, consulting, education, and product certification for Global 1000 companies. The combined efforts of these two tech giants are poised to make a significant impact on the enterprise Linux landscape.