LINUXWORLD SF - SMB - Start-up launches SMB Linux package in US

Start-up Linux vendor Collax launched its flagship product in the United States at LinuxWorld Tuesday, aiming the turnkey business software package at small and midsize business customers that don't have much experience with the open source operating system.

The Collax Business Server is a Linux-based operating system that combines security, networking and communications software. It is available with a free software license for as many as five noncommercial users; prices for a 10-user, one-year subscription to the package start at $495.

According to the Munich company, SMBs can implement Collax Business Server with little to no Linux knowledge. The product has been available in Europe, where the company has more than 6,000 customers. Collax is positioning the product as a competitor to Microsoft's Windows-based Small Business Server OS.

In addition to launching its first product in the United States, Collax also launched a program for partners. The Collax Charter Partner Program offers training, sales leads, market-development funding and product support to companies that want to sell Collax's software.

For more information about how to join the program, companies can contact info-us@collax.com or visit /www.collax.com/charterpartner

Collax, launched in June 2005, has gotten attention from some notable Silicon Valley investors. The company has garnered $8.4 million in combined investment from Intel, Atlas Venture Partners and Wellington Partners.

Collax CEO Olaf Jacobi launched Collax after a conversation with former Suse Linux CTO Boris Nalbach, in which the two discussed how SMBs are having a tougher time than enterprises at adopting Linux because of its complexity. Nalbach is now Collax's CTO.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.