Sources claim Microsoft and Novell to cooperate

Sources claim Microsoft and Novell to cooperate

A source close to the discussions being held has said that software giant Microsoft is currently in talks with Novell and the two companies might soon enter into an agreement. This deal might allow Linux software to work with Microsoft’s Windows software.

If this is true, it would be a major change in policy for Microsoft which has for years tried to downplay the threat originating from the Linux operating system.

However, the ever growing popularity of the Linux platform means that Microsoft’s customers need the two technologies to support each other.

The source claims that the deal could be announced soon by Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer and Novell CEO Ron Hovsepian.

In fact an earlier report released by the Wall Street Journal had claimed that Microsoft would support Novell’s Linux product. Katherine Egbert, an analyst with Jefferies & Co. spoke on these rumors: “Linux has grown up. By jumping into Linux providing support and technology that makes Linux work on Windows and vice versa, that shows that Linux is a mainstream market.”