IBM and Canonical launched yesterday a software bundle targeted at companies that packs productivity applications along with underlying system infrastructure in a well-integrated product. For it the two software creators have stacked the IBM Client for Smart Work, a collaboration and productivity package that was released just a month ago, on top of Canonical's well-known Ubuntu Linux operating system.

This is more of a solution for companies seeking to move to a newer platform, but that don't want to incur the associated licensing and migration costs, or the hardware upgrades that are necessary for a Microsoft Windows 7 implementation, as Bib Picciano, general manager, IBM Lotus Software, explains: "If a company is a 'Windows shop,' at some point it will need to evaluate the significant costs of migrating its base to Microsoft's next desktop [...] American businesses have asked for a compelling alternative that can help them free up PC expenses to use for more strategic collaboration and business transformation projects."

The software solution created by IBM and Canonical contains an office suite featuring word processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications based on IBM Lotus Symphony, an e-mail client that is based on IBM Lotus Notes, the social networking and collaboration cloud-based tools provided by LotusLive.com and the underlying Ubuntu operating system. Alternatively, companies can opt to use the cloud-based LotusLive iNotes application instead of IBM Lotus Notes. Since the IBM Client for Smart Work is based on the Eclipse IDE and other pieces of open-source software, it can integrate with many other applications, giving companies the flexibility to use technologies of their choice and to preserve existing investments.

Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Ubuntu and Canonical CEO, said that "Canonical is proud to partner with IBM to help open up the American corporate desktop through Ubuntu. [...] IBM's smart client package running on Ubuntu will allow U.S. organizations the financial freedom to redistribute the costs of expensive software licenses into IT projects that will innovate and drive critical growth."

Bob Sutor, vice president of Linux and Open Source, IBM Software, added: "Instead of positioning the IBM Client as a 'drop-in' replacement for the status-quo desktop, IBM is looking to create something better – focused on usability, openness, and security with a path to cloud computing – in market segments that make sense. [...] Linux as the basis of the desktop is a pragmatic choice and gives a nod to the likely future of the desktop as being open and often virtualized."

Companies that are based in the United States of America can purchase the IBM Client for Smart Work from business partners such as Canonical, CSS Corp., Compariv, Mainline, Midas Networks, Red Hat, Virtual Bridges and ZSL.