eSoft Sold on Linux, Goes With Red Hat

eSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESFT) announced this week that it will exclusively use the Red Hat, Inc. (Nasdaq: RHAT) version of the increasingly popular Linux operating system (OS) in the development of its products.

The provider of Linux-based Internet appliances and services is working on a new product “roadmap” that will give their products a consistent appearance and functionality. The roadmap will also expand the offerings of its customers, including value added resellers (VARs).

The first eSoft product to be introduced running Red Hat Linux 6.0 is TEAM Internet which is designed, according to the company, to serve as the standard Internet gateway for small-to medium-sized businesses, providing Internet connectivity and e-mail capabilities.

“A majority of eSoft’s engineers have used very early Linux versions and collectively have nearly a half-century of experience programming on the Linux platform,” commented Jeff Finn, president and CEO of eSoft. “One of the strengths of our organization is the depth and breadth of experience represented in our Linux engineering staff.”

The new Red Hat-powered products, added Finn, “will have a common look and feel, delivering the same usability, flexibility and performance our customers expect,” added Finn. According to eSoft, the new roadmap will deliver recurring incremental revenue to its resellers.

Technologic Marks eSoft Dance Card

The Broomfield, Colorado-based eSoft is also boosting its offerings with firewall and VPN (virtual private network) products made available through the company’s recently completed merger with Technologic, Inc. The merger involved 1,500,000 shares of eSoft common stock.

“By unifying eSoft and Technologic products, eSoft will offer its customers an extended product line allowing for a time-to-market advantage,” observed Finn. “Additionally, we continue to look for solutions that our resellers can gain increased incremental revenue streams and believe that the Technologic products are very well suited for this purpose.”

The acquisition of Technologic, according to eSoft, will add value to the company’s products and applications offered to the small and medium-sized business market. Planned upgradeable application modules, aside a policy-based firewall and VPNs, include Web hosting and an application interface that will allow Web-based application development.

“We feel that our years of research and development in security and VPN technology will complement the eSoft product line, that will in turn continue to meet the demand for specialized products and technologies for various Internet functions,” stated Brian Cohen, CEO and founder of Technologic. “We believe as one company, we will expand our customer base and continue to grow as software providers of Internet tools and technology.”