Linux Magazine’s Top 20 Companies to Watch in 2008
Who knows what the future will hold? Well, heaven knows we don’t or we’d have already won the lottery a few times and retired to a private island somewhere. However, we can look at the past to make a few reasonable predictions– such as the companies in the free and open source software community that are going to have a major impact on the market in 2008.
Thursday, January 10th, 2008
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SWsoft
It can (almost) safely be said that 2007 was the year of virtualization. Certainly, it wasn’t the first year that virtualization technologies were available, but it was the year that virtualization broke out from a niche technology to a cornerstone of many organizations IT plans.
Virtualization is here to stay, but VMware isn’t a lock to retain first place in the market. Underdog SWsoft may be coming up from behind, but it’s technology is first-rate. Companies looking to virtualization to consolidate homogenous Linux or Windows environments should be strongly eyeing Virtuozzo.
Another reason we consider SWsoft a strong contender? Its open source roots with OpenVZ, and success at getting pieces of its technology into the mainstream Linux kernel. We think this is vital for any company that wants to succeed in the long term.
The company also poses a viable threat on the desktop, with Parallels virtualization technology that runs on Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. While not as well established as VMware, Parallels has a strong following on the Mac, and is slowly gaining traction on Windows and Linux desktops as well.
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8 Comments 
Surprised to see that there is no Novell (distributor of SuSe flavor) in the list. Any specific reason? or just for not funding FOSS?
if funding is the only reason why would MS be in the top 20?
An interesting, important list. Thanks Linux.
@dsailesh
The FOSS community is pissed since Novell signed a patent agreement with Microsoft and novell pays Microsoft for every Linux box sold. Its the FOSS developers who hardwork Novell sold out.
Richard stallman, Bruce Perens, Samba team, FSF has called a Novell a sellout.
Many hardcore FOSS developers have boycotted Novell version of Linux.
Check out : http://boycottnovell.com
Novell the next SCO :
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/11/07/perens_on_ms_novell/
You can find more ugly details of the deal here :
http://techp.org/petition/show/1
Microsoft in infiltrating the FOSS and disrupting them by signing license deals using patent threats. It is joining the FOSS camps by using money and spreading FUD. It has even inflitrated the OSI using money and pressure tactics. It wants to put a license cost on Linux. You will soon have to pay to microsoft to use Linux. It main aim is to shutdown Linux using patents and lawyers.
Please sign this petition to bring the old debain leader (Bruce Perens) back in the OSI to stop microsoft from doing so :
http://techp.org/p/7
Check the recent news about partner ship of Novell with Microsoft. Microsoft is putting a lot of proprietary patented software into Linux through Novell. Most of the good guys at Novell have left the company. Microsoft is doing this so that they can sue and threaten other companies like redhat, ubuntu, ibm who support Linux/FOSS once enough code is injected. They want to put a price-tag on Linux.
Novell is just another microsoft sponsored company.
Commercialize Linux.
Google for “evangelism is war” and “halloween documents”
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20071023002351958
Lot of things are happening under the surface that dont appear in any press. But be very careful with Microsoft/Novell. They are out to destroy Linux at all cost under the hood.
See more details about the Tax Microsoft wants to put on Linux rendering GPL non-free.
http://www.digitalmajority.org/forum/t-49513/brad-smith-continues-its-fud-spreading-wants-to-tax-redhat
I have just discovered how much I enjoy Linux, (pronounced Freedom)
Now a Greedy Dictator (Microsoft) is trying to take away my freedom of choice?
It seems the more money you have the more corrupt you are.
I cannot believe how Greedy some people are.
Come on Microsoft take me to court I just slammed you, lets make it public knowledge.
Parasite.
You dont invent anything you steal it, add very little and slap your name on it.
Microsoft must NOT be allowed to Monopolize every computer on earth.