Oracle May Launch Linux Version, Considered Novell Buy -- Redmondmag.com

Oracle May Launch Linux Version, Considered Novell Buy

By The Associated Press
04/17/2006

Business software provider Oracle Corp. is considering plans to offer its own version of the Linux operating system and has studied an acquisition of Novell Inc., the open-source operating system's No. 2 distributor, according to a newspaper report Monday.

Novell shares rose more than 2 percent in morning trading, while rival Red Hat Inc. fell more than 6 percent.

Oracle sells databases and other business applications, and by offering a version of the Linux operating system, it would be able to provide customers with a more complete suite of software. Rivals such as Microsoft Corp. and IBM Corp. commonly tout the benefits of these packages, called "stacks."

Oracle's chief executive, Larry Ellison, told the Financial Times that the company might launch its own version of Linux and has considered buying Linux distributor Novell. That could help counter leading Linux vendor Red Hat, which just announced a $350 million acquisition of JBoss Inc., a maker of open-source "middleware," which connects varying applications.

"I don't think Oracle and IBM want another Microsoft in Red Hat," Ellison told the Financial Times.

Representatives of Redwood Shores, Calif.-based Oracle, Waltham, Mass.-based Novell and Raleigh, N.C.-based Red Hat did not immediately return calls seeking comment Monday. An IBM spokesman declined to comment.

Oracle shares were up 9 cents at $13.77 on the Nasdaq Stock Market, while Novell had gained 19 cents, 2.5 percent, at $7.70. Red Hat was down $1.91, 6.3 percent, at $28.64.

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