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Morelinux to make US foray with a suite of Linux-based products
Kavitha Rajasekhar
Bangalore: Pune-based Morelinux.com is drawing up plans to enter the US market with a suite of Linux-based products, including a POP3 mail software, and its own version of Linux specifically for thin client and mobile device applications. As part of its strategy to leverage markets where Linux is popular, the company is also set to commence full fledged marketing and support operations in the US. Morelinux.com president and CEO Gautam Godse told eFE that the company would introduce four products initially -- Zing (a mail client), Less Linux (a linux distribution for thin client applications), Q-traffic (a Linux based Web-log analyser) and Luk & Feel (a dynamic Web-front customisation and publishing tool) -- in the US market. Speaking on the two new products, Godse said that `Zing' was a Linux-based mail client (equivalent to Outlook Express), aimed at both commercial as well as personal use applications; while `Less Linux' (the company had developed both the kernel and windowing environment) will be aplatform onto which applications (like Zing, etc.) for thin clients, PDA's and other mobile devices could be ported. The company is also currently working out deals to also provide the hardware (thin clients) loaded with applications based on less Linux for their customers. Other products like Q-traffic and Luk & Feel are currently ready for production and will be offered as customised solutions for clients, especially in the media and Internet-related service sectors, he added. "We are basically looking at focussing on the US markets for our products, owing to the market size. The key thrust sectors are media, ISP and Web-service providers (WSP) in Silicon Valley, where there are close to 5,000 WSP. India is also a focus for products like Zing and Q-traffic," Godse said. As for the specific marketing strategy, the company is looking at offering services across the product, consulting, project-based development areas. "Morelinux.com is looking at the portal/e-commerce/Internet technology/ISP space to leverage the market for our products. Building OEM channels especially with regard to Less Linux-based deals, and other strategic alliances for our products will be a thrust area," he said. As for financial details, the company is looking at revenues of $5-10 million in the first year, across all products and services. "The idea is to drive business opportunities and revenues by focussing and operating in a niche space," Godse said. Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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