TurboLinux Powers Japanese E-Commerce Giant

Open-source based software solutions provider TurboLinux on Tuesday announced that its server product has been deployed, along with a cluster of IBM Netfinity 5000 Servers, to power one of Japan’s largest consumer e-commerce Web sites.

DEODEO, a Japan-based consumer electronics, software and music retailer, has joined a rising number of companies in the Asia-Pacific market that have chosen Linux-based technologies to fuel online business initiatives. Linux, which is a UNIX variant operating system, offers open-source code and, arguably, a lower total cost of ownership.

“Working with DEODEO, IBM and our local systems integrator, we were successful in providing a mission-critical solution against a competing proprietary UNIX solution that would have cost the customer four times as much money,” commented TurboLinux CEO Cliff Miller.

Miller added that TurboLinux’s enterprise customers “are building their businesses around this fundamental value proposition offered by Linux.”

Linux: Big in Japan

“Japanese businesses are embracing the many advantages of the Linux operating system,” observed Fernand B. Sarrat, president and CEO of Linuxcare, a company that has recently established Asia-Pacific operations headquartered in Tokyo.

According to International Data Corp. (IDC), the Japanese market is taking the Linux OS seriously. The number of Linux-based servers in Japan is expected hit 65,000 by 2003, an extraordinary increase over the 1998 total of 2,200.

TurboLinux originated in the Asia-Pacific region, and markets Chinese, Japanese and Korean language versions of Linux.

E-Commerce Expansion

In addition to the current announcement, TurboLinux also recently reported that it entered into a partnership with Akopia, a provider of online business solutions, to bundle its latest server software package with an e-commerce suite.

According to the agreement, the Linux software vendor is set to give users of its new TurboLinux Server version 6.0 access to the Tallyman open-source e-commerce storefront management system. The e-commerce enabling tool is, according to TurboLinux, browser-based and manages online transactions, secures order capture, tax and shipping calculations and works with real-time payment processing systems.

“TurboLinux has built an e-commerce and back office Linux-based server solution for small companies and enterprise workgroups,” commented Steve Quan, senior director of product marketing for TurboLinux.

The company also announced in early February at the LinuxWorld Expo in New York City that it is bundling the OpenMerchant e-commerce application made by OpenSales, Inc. with its TurboLinux Server 6.0 product.

According to Miller, “TurboLinux is building its products to enable e-commerce infrastructure.”

U.S. Deal

San Francisco, California-based TurboLinux earlier this month announced a strategic alliance with Inprise/Borland Corp. (Nasdaq: INPR), a provider of Internet access tools and services.

Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement, the companies will test, certify, integrate, enhance and market their Linux products, providing business clients with end-to-end solutions, including support and training services.