Turbolinux rockets into Europe

Linux vendor Turbolinux arrived in Europe last week and immediately began a channel recruitment drive for its version of the emerging operating system.

Linux vendor Turbolinux arrived in Europe last week and immediately began a channel recruitment drive for its version of the emerging operating system.

The US-based company, which claims to be the third largest Linux vendor worldwide, will compete in the European market alongside already established vendors such as Red Hat, SuSE and Caldera.

John Cave, general manager at Turbolinux UK, said the company will be 100 per cent focused on the channel and aims to have at least 30 resellers signed up within the UK in the next six months. Turbolinux will also sign on retail partners for its workstation and server products.

The vendor has established a four-strong channel team to cover segments such as retail, resellers, education, original equipment manufacturers and mail order. It has set up its UK operation through software supplier Guildsoft. Mike Holman, former sales director of Guildsoft, has been named as UK channel manager for Turbolinux. Details on accreditation schemes are expected within the next three months.

"We expect to be very successful, and I believe that in Europe we should get 15 to 25 per cent of the market," said Cave. "Linux vendors are in a lucky market. None of us needs to take business away from the other to succeed because the market is growing so fast."

John Winters, owner of reseller Linux Emporium, said there is more than enough room for another Linux vendor. "We would definitely be interested in another version of Linux. The most important things are reasonable prices, margins and supply," he said.