IBM will make "Microsoft-free" computers for Russia and Eastern Europe

At CeBIT 2008 , which is being held in Hannover, on March 4, IBM, together with its Polish and Austrian partners, announced its intention to supply Microsoft-free computers to Eastern Europe and to Russia. This statement is quite natural, after the emergence of serious problems with the use of Microsoft unlicensed software.



“Microsoft-free” computers will be equipped with free software, and software based on the Linux kernel will be installed as the operating system. The office suite will also be “alternate”: IBM's Lotus Symphony, which supports the open ODF document format.



Since IBM’s computer assembly division was sold to Lenovo, China, the hardware solution will be provided by partners from Poland ( LX Polska ) and Austria ( VDEL ).



These solutions immediately interested potential buyers, and some of this category have already moved into the category of customers. Among them are the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Aeroflot, Alfa-Bank. IBM did not disclose the amounts and volumes of contracts, citing an agreement with partners.

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Microsoft is also not standing still: together with the mobile operator MTS, the company is going to offer cheap laptops with Windows Vista preinstalled on the Russian market. This solution due to its low cost is positioned as ideal for small businesses.



via Reuters