Turbolinux rockets into UK on recruitment drive

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

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

The US-based company, which has claimed to be the world's third-largest Linux vendor, plans to compete in the European market alongside established vendors such as Red Hat, SuSE and Caldera.

John Cave, general manager at Turbolinux UK, said the vendor will be totally focused on the channel.

He said Turbolinux aims to have at least 30 UK resellers signed up within the next six months and that the company will also sign retail partners for its workstation and server products.

The company has established a four-strong channel team to cover segments including retail, resellers, education, OEMs and mail order.

Turbolinux has set up its UK operation through software supplier Guildsoft.

Mike Holman, sales director of Guildsoft, has been named as UK channel manager for Turbolinux. Details about accreditation schemes are expected within the next three months.

Cave said: "We expect to be extremely successful and I believe that in Europe we should be able to get hold of 15 to 25 per cent of the market.

"Linux vendors are in a lucky market. None of us needs to take business away from the other to succeed since the market is growing so quickly."

According to John Winters, the owner of reseller Linux Emporium, there is more than enough room for another Linux vendor in the market.

"We would definitely be interested in another version of Linux," he said.

"The most important things of all are reasonable prices, reasonable margins and reasonable supply."