Virtual Linux Open source News - OSDL and FSG merge to form Linux Foundation

(Electronic News) _ The industry's two leading groups promoting the Windows-rivaling Linux operating system, the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) http://www.osdl.org http://www.freestandards.org, have inked an agreement to merge and form The Linux Foundation http://www.linux-foundation.org.

The new consortium boasts a star-studded lineup: founding members of the Linux Foundation include Fujitsu http://www.fujitsu.com, Hitachi http://www.hitachi.com, HP http://www.hp.com, IBM http://www.ibm.com, Intel http://www.intel.com, NEC http://www.necel.com, Novell http://www.novell.com, and Oracle http://www.oracle.com. Jim Zemlin, former executive director of the Free Standards Group, is set to lead The Linux Foundation.

"Computing is entering a world dominated by two platforms: Linux and Windows," Zemlin said in a statement. "The Linux Foundation helps in the next stage of Linux growth by organizing the diverse companies and constituencies of the Linux ecosystem to promote, protect, and standardize Linux." ? The foundation claims to employ a shared resources strategy mirroring open source development to collaborate on platform development while enhancing the Linux market for end users, the community, developers and industry.? The Linux Foundation said it does not build Linux or compete with existing Linux companies. Rather it, sponsors Linux developers, provides legal services, standardizes and improves Linux platforms, and provides a forum for collaboration and promotion of the OS.

The merger is pending ratification by the two organizations' respective memberships and is expected to be completed in early February. Late last year, Japan-based Linux supplier Turbolinux Corp. announced the development of the Wizpy http://www.edn.com/article/CA6396068.html?partner=enews, an iPod-sized portable media player with radio and audio recording capabilities that includes a device that can boot the Linux operating system on PCs.

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