Microsoft strikes deal with Novell

PROPRIETARY software emperor Microsoft has struck a deal with the Linux reseller Novell to make it easier for customers to use both Linux and Microsoft's Windows software.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the move is mostly being seen as a counter attack against Microsoft's enemy Oracle which has been involved in machinations with Novell's rival Red Hat.

The deal will make the Vole a SuSE Linux seller and will mean the pair will share technology. It means that Vole will not file patent infringement charges against users of Suse Linux, and Novell has promised not to sue users of Windows.

This will end a lot of unease that some business users had against adopting Linux. There had been some fear that one day Microsoft would simply sue Linux into non-existence.

The shy and retiring and very softly spoken CEO and born diplomat Steve Ballmer admitted that the deal was an acknowledgement that Linux plays an "important role" at many companies these days.

He whispered that the deal was a bridge over the divide between open-source and proprietary software.

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