Groups merge in plan to accelerate Linux growth

by Antony Savvas

Saturday 20 January 2007

The Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), which sponsors Linux creator Linus Torvalds, and the Free Standards Group (FSG) have merged to form The Linux Foundation.

The new organisation said it had been set up to help accelerate the growth of Linux, by providing a more comprehensive set of services to compete effectively against proprietary platforms from the likes of Microsoft.

Founding members of the Linux Foundation include Fujitsu, Hitachi, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, NEC, Novell, and Oracle.

Jim Zemlin, former executive director of the Free Standards Group, leads The Linux Foundation. Other members of the organisation include every major company in the Linux industry, including Red Hat, as well as community groups, universities and user companies.

"Computing is entering a world dominated by two platforms: Linux and Windows. While being managed under one roof has given Windows some consistency, Linux offers freedom of choice, customisation and flexibility without forcing customers into supplier lock-in," said Zemlin.