Novell Targets Small and Medium Businesses

Novell announced it will bundle support and training offerings with its SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. With this new offering, Novell solution provider partners, the company's primary channel to the mid-market, can deliver a comprehensive Linux solution, including 24x7 support and online assistance to their customers. Training will be provided for free, as part of the complete solution

The announcement comes days after Novell announced that the company will no longer force users into service and maintenance contracts attached to the software deal.

"We are seeing a growing interest in Linux by small and medium size businesses," said Jodi Honore, vice president, vendor management, Ingram Micro Inc. "With an offering that is easy to explain, deliver and support, solution providers, previously apprehensive of taking on a new operating system, can now build their Linux practice and gain new customers."

Traditionally, large vendors have focused on the high-end market, and this move by Novell may suggest that the company is switching focus. However, it may just be that they are taking advantage of a market opportunity.

"There has been significant focus on the public sector's use and adoption of Linux and open source - and this is understandable if you think of the high potential," said Tom Ekevall Larsen, president and CEO, Scribona AB, a Novell partner in Europe. "This new offering delivers a compelling, easy to deploy solution that gives small and medium sized businesses a boost by providing the technology, skills, and support they need to drive real business value from open source," added Ron Hovsepian, Novell president and COO.

Careful not to drop a hint of thought about competition with Red Hat, the press report states that the offering is available to new customers, effective immediately.