MandrakeSoft Launches Innovative Open-Source Services and Acquires Coursemetric Corp.

MandrakeSoft has announced the launch of two innovative open-source services, MandrakeExpert and MandrakeCampus, in the form of e-marketplaces focused on e-learning, courseware and other LINUX support.

The company also announced the acquisition of Coursemetric Corp., an ASP-software and information services company specialising in the provision of Web-based evaluation tools for education and training organisations. MandrakeCampus will initially provide Linux courseware and basic functionality to allow users and contributors to submit content-related remarks and suggestions. By September, it will offer full e-learning platform functionality and will be made available commercially and for free download. In particular, MandrakeCampus will provide authoring tools, allowing contributors to load their own courseware, a fully functional delivery system, including synchronous and asynchronous learning, video and audio conferencing as well as student registering management functionalities. A similar 'tipping' system as the one being introduced for MandrakeExpert will also be integrated, allowing users/students to reward teachers for their service on a spontaneous basis. MandrakeExpert.com allows users to submit Linux-related questions to registered experts of their choice, based on the latter's expertise and on an innovative user rating mechanism. The real novelty is that MandrakeExpert.com will shortly be equipped with e-commerce functionalities allowing registered Experts to indicate if they would like a 'tip' for their service and the ideal amount that they are seeking, and users to reward them if they feel that they have derived value from their answers. In a further illustration of MandrakeSoft's support for the Open-Source philosophy, registered Experts will have the option to donate their tips to Open-Source projects of their choice.