Unify ‘Unifies’ E-Commerce and Linux

E-commerce solution provider Unify Corp. (Nasdaq: UNFY), announced this week that two of its forthcoming Internet software releases will be certified to run on the Red Hat, Inc. (Nasdaq: RHAT) distribution of the Linux operating system (OS).

The move, which builds upon a strategic developer partnership established in May, will allow users of Unify’s eWave Engine and Unify WebNow! to tap into the power of open-source through Red Hat Linux 6.0 package. The two companies, according to their original agreement, will also be developing co-marketing initiatives.

“By leveraging our partnership with Red Hat, we’re able to offer customers complete and comprehensive solutions on Linux for their Internet and e-commerce needs,” commented John Davis, vice president of business development for Unify. “With Unify eWave Engine and Unify WebNow! for Linux, we enhance our position as a leading e-commerce company providing Linux-based solutions.”

The Added Product Portfolio Value of Linux

The Unify WebNow! product — a dynamic Web page engine that provides Web access to databases — will be available toward the end of the month. The release date for the Unify eWave Engine product for Linux, a Java application server, has not yet been disclosed.

“Unify’s Internet application solutions, its comprehensive offerings in data storage systems, and its development and e-commerce solutions are a welcome addition to the rapidly growing Linux user base,” stated Paul McNamara, Red Hat’s vice president of business development. “The developers partner agreement with Unify strengthens and improves the choices developers have when creating solutions that operate on Linux.”

“With Unify eWave Engine and Unify WebNow! available on the Linux platform, Unify has completed its entire product portfolio for the Linux operating system, including the Unify VISION and Unify DataServer families,” the company said in statement.

Davis added that “Offering alternatives that significantly decrease time to market, reduce cost of operation, and ultimately increase profits were the critical messages we received from our customers. We are pleased to be in partnership with Red Hat to offer customers complete and comprehensive solutions for the Linux operating system.”

The Circus of Wall Street

Following the announcement, shares of both companies experienced gains. The “post-Red Hat IPO (initial public offering) period,” as analysts have dubbed it, has had an impact on the stocks of numerous companies involved with the production and distribution of Linux products, including Applix (Nasdaq: APLX) and Corel (Nasdaq: CORL).

The Red Hat IPO has significantly contributed to an environment where investors who had never heard of open-source software began talking GNU and has set into motion a flurry of speculation regarding which company will follow suit. Many analysts are holding up companies such as Caldera Systems and VA Linux Systems as likely candidates.

Linux was created in 1991 as a freely distributed alternative to Microsoft Windows.