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This year promises to be a big one for Linux, at least according to predictions by analysts and pundits in the early part of this decade. Some examples:

* Linux will be installed on 45% of new servers shipped by 2007 (Meta Group, 2002).

* Linux will run on 6% of desktops by 2007 (IDC, 2004).

* Linux will account for 7% of the worldwide cell phone operating market by 2007 (ARC Group, 2004).

Whether or not these predictions pan out ("no" on servers, "close" on desktop, "maybe" on cell phone, I say), here's a rundown of Linux and open source happenings you can reasonably expect to see in 2007:

* Early 2007

OpenOffice + Microsoft Office

Novell says its Linux-based OpenOffice.org suite will be compatible with Microsoft's Open Office XML format by the end of January. This development stems out of the wide-ranging partnership between the two companies made in November 2006. Novell, the first translation code between OpenOffice.org and Microsoft Office, will allow Microsoft Word and OpenOffice's WRITER to share documents freely under the Office Open XML standard for multiplatform document creation.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5

The long-awaited RHEL5 is slated to ship in early 2007, and should be one of the most significant Linux products introduced this year. Virtualization will be at the core of the distribution, with the Xen virtualization stack built into the code. Advances in security, with enhancements in SELinux and IPSec, and improved Microsoft Active Directory integration are among the myriad upgrades in the product.

Flash Player 9

Flash Player 9 for Linux is expected to ship in "early 2007." Beta 2 for Flash Player 9 for Linux was released in November, and Adobe hopes to get the final kinks out of the code before the end of winter.

Enemy Territory: Quake Wars

Diversion time: the game "Enemy Territory: Quake Wars" is expected to be released by February 27 for Linux machines.

Novell BrainShare 2007

Once the NetWare administrators' show of shows, this event has taken a Linux angle since Novell's shift to SUSE and open source. It runs from March 18-23 in Salt Lake City, Utah.