BMW and Siemens Welcome Interoperability Benefits of Microsoft-Novell Agreement
- Searching for ways to improve cross-platform efficiencies, the companies will utilize Linux certificates to streamline processes and reduce cost and system complexity
REDMOND, Wash., and WALTHAM, Mass. -- Sept. 11, 2007 -- BMW AG and Siemens Corp. today became the latest customers to take advantage of the collaboration between Microsoft Corp. and Novell that enables IT interoperability in mixed-source environments.
Under two separate agreements, Microsoft will deliver to BMW and Siemens each certificates for three-year priority support subscriptions to SUSE(R) Linux Enterprise Server from Novell(R). The agreements, which will help the companies run both Microsoft(R) Windows(R) and SUSE Linux Enterprise systems seamlessly together, demonstrate Microsoft and Novell's ongoing commitment to helping customers reduce overall cost, increase efficiencies and address the challenges of operating in mixed-source environments.
BMW and Siemens join a steadily growing group of European companies, including Credit Suisse and HSBC, which are benefiting from Novell and Microsoft's agreement to jointly build and support solutions to improve interoperability, deliver powerful new virtualization capabilities, and provide intellectual property (IP) peace of mind.
"Interoperability remains one of the top challenges for our customers, and through our current alliance with Microsoft we are providing solutions to meet this challenge," said Susan Heystee, vice president and general manager of global strategic alliances for Novell. "These two companies -- BMW and Siemens -- have dramatically different businesses, yet the same technology platform can be leveraged to increase their efficiencies internally, and for us that equates to continued growth of SUSE Linux Enterprise in the market."
"Customers have asked us for solutions that make Microsoft products work better with other platforms and for IP assurance that enables vendors to build technical bridges," said Susan Hauser, general manager of strategic partnerships and licensing at Microsoft. "By responding to customers with real-world, pragmatic solutions, we have seen a steady increase worldwide in customers signing up to take advantage of this relationship."
For Siemens, the agreement will support the Siemens operating company through the work of the ISEC subsidiary of Siemens Enterprise Communications, which is responsible for customer software application development and management worldwide. Due to the large quantity of current and legacy Linux* applications in customer environments, Siemens has significant need for Windows and Linux platform compatibility.
"Siemens customers operate in a heterogeneous environment, and our ability to harness the interoperability work between Novell and Microsoft brings immense value to our business," said Dr. Manfred Wangler, vice president, Corporate Research and Technology, Siemens. "Agreements like this allow us to focus on innovating, working with partners to improve processes and efficiencies by providing the framework for collaboration."
The agreement will enable BMW's dual-vendor data center strategy, supporting worldwide corporate computing services and many human resources, marketing and financial applications. BMW now has the potential to pursue systems management in a more efficient and reliable manner, more securely ramp up its future virtualization activities, and have IP peace of mind.
The Microsoft-Novell Agreement
As part of the five-year Microsoft-Novell agreement, announced Nov. 2, 2006, Microsoft can make subscription certificates available for customers to redeem to receive SUSE Linux Enterprise Server support services directly from Novell. Since the announcement, Novell has invoiced more than 44 percent of the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server subscriptions from the Microsoft and Novell collaboration agreement.
About Novell
Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers infrastructure software for the Open Enterprise. Novell is a leader in enterprise-wide operating systems based on Linux and open source and provides the enterprise management services required to operate mixed IT environments. Novell helps customers minimize cost, complexity and risk, allowing them to focus on innovation and growth. For more information, visit www.novell.com .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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Novell and SUSE are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. *Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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