Linux Inside
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I sit at an odd intersection of the Linux tsunami. Not only was I deeply involved in making SuSE Linux a viable brand within enterprises before the Novell acquisition, I also work in Alameda, California (a.k.a. Silicon Island), home of Wind River.
Wind River was and is the acknowledged leader in embedded operating systems. For years their proprietary kernel was to be found secretly snuggled within automobiles, routers, satellites, and some military projects in the wink-wink, nudge-nudge category.
When Linux started to chisel away at their lead, Wind River did what a nimble firm should do — they changed the rules and became the predominant force in embedded Linux as well as their own operating system, and started bridging their world class development tools for embedded Linux bigots.
I tell these tales to prelude a point: Linux is a virus, and is spreading. We know it has been a hit on servers, and depending on what metric you use, it is either a huge threat, an indomitable force, or the world champ. But because it runs everywhere, it is getting into everything.
As it did with servers, the spread of the virus begins with isolated infections, then rockets into a pandemic once it reaches large populations.
Two recent Linux news items are worth noting. First, the mobile phone industry is strongly embracing Linux. When we see Motorola, NEC, Panasonic, Samsung Electronics, NTT DoCoMo and Vodafone band together to standardize Linux for handies, we know the Linux virus has reached a crossroads from where it can infect the population at large. Since the cell phone business is highly competitive, with margins thinner than Kate Moss, such a cable is interesting — as is any time competitors band together.
Second, we see
Peugeot adopting Linux for upwards of 20,000 desktops. Until recently, mainly government and Linux focused technology firms had mandated Linux for desk workers. But now we see a major commitment by a corporation in traditional manufacturing taking the plunge. Being hard nosed mechanics, they likely take such decisions with serious deliberation, especially since 20,000 desktops covers 22% of all their workers … most of which don’t sit at desks.
Some may write these news stories off as anecdotal. But so did others with early reports of Linux being adopted for servers. I recall the stories well, with reporters and pundits claiming that such Linux adopting firms were “bleeding edge” or “taking calculated risks.” Perhaps they were, but it paid off because the economics of Open made ROI workable. So too will be Linux cell phones and desktops, for when the ROI is proven in one
instance, eager competitors will mimic the success.
