Customers Strongly Endorse New Microsoft-Novell Deal
Tuesday, 2 January 2007 A survey of technology decision-makers shows very strong customer support for the recent agreement between Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) and Novell Inc. designed to improve interoperability between Windows Server(R) and SUSE Linux Enterprise. Nearly all respondents agree with improving interoperability, having products that work well together, and having tools that make it easier to manage mixed Windows(R) and Linux environments. The survey, jointly commissioned by Novell and Microsoft, was conducted by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates Inc., a respected independent market research firm.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
"Microsoft and Novell entered into this agreement to make it easier for customers to deploy Windows Server and Linux together," said Susan Heystee, vice president of Global Strategic Alliances at Novell. "The results of this independent research show the majority of approval numbers over 80 and 90 percent. These high numbers don't surprise me because they match the very positive reception that we've gotten from customers. This survey supports our belief when we entered the agreement with Microsoft: Collaboration on behalf of the customer is a winning proposition for all parties involved."
"This survey confirms for us what we've been hearing from customers all along. They want technology vendors to work together to promote interoperability and to stand behind the products they sell and service," said Susan Hauser, general manager of customer advocacy at Microsoft. "Customers who have mixed-source environments want their platform providers to work better together to tackle the complexity and cost of integration. Through our work with Novell, we're doing just that."
Penn, Schoen & Berland conducted 201 interviews Nov. 17-20 with IT executives, managers or staff whose primary job is in a formalized IT department, or who perform IT functions in a non-IT department but who have significant technology purchasing authority. Organizations had to have at least 500 PCs to participate in the survey. The survey did not intentionally target, but did break out, results for respondents whose companies deploy both Microsoft(R) Windows and SUSE Linux from Novell, as well as Red Hat Linux. Among the key findings were these:
-- Ninety-five percent approve of the collaboration between Novell and
Microsoft. Microsoft, Novell and customers all benefit from
collaboration. More than 90 percent of respondents approve of the
Microsoft and Novell collaboration, believing it will benefit IT
customers and increase interoperability of IT systems.
-- Eighty-seven percent said that customers benefit if leading Linux
distributors and Microsoft worked more closely with one another. Four
out of five believe their organization would consider doing more
business with Linux dealers if Linux providers establish an alliance
with Microsoft.
-- Sixty-seven percent said they're more likely to consider deploying SUSE
Linux from Novell. The Microsoft-Novell collaboration increased
customer consideration of SUSE Linux. More than two-thirds of all
respondents, and 79 percent of respondents who currently use Red Hat,
said the agreement was more likely to make them choose SUSE Linux for
their data center.
-- Ninety-seven percent said they wanted platform providers to improve
interoperability of their systems. Interoperability is the area where
respondents want the most focus. Customers want their platform
providers to work together to improve the interoperability of their
systems and provide tools that make it easier for the end user to
navigate both Linux and Windows environments.
-- Eighty-nine percent want technology companies to take responsibility
for the intellectual property in the products they ship. Also, more
than seven in 10 are more likely to deploy Linux with intellectual
property rights, which would limit their corporation's exposure to
risk. These customers see it as the responsibility of their vendors to
work out intellectual property issues before deploying services.
A copy of the full survey results is available at the end of this press release.
About Penn, Schoen and Berland
Founded in 1975, Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates (PSB) has been a WPP (LSE: WPP; Nasdaq: WPPGY) company since 2001. PSB is a strategic communications firm that specializes in research-based recommendations for its clients. PSB has conducted research studies for Microsoft over the past 8 years. PSB has offices in Seattle, New York, Washington, Denver, Los Angeles and London.
About the Microsoft and Novell Agreement
On Nov. 2, 2006, Novell and Microsoft announced a collaboration in which the companies agreed to jointly build, market and support a series of new solutions to improve interoperability, deliver powerful new virtualization capabilities, make Microsoft and Novell products work better together, and provide their customers with patent coverage for their respective products. More information on the agreement between Novell and Microsoft can be found at http://www.novell.com/linux/microsoft and http://www.microsoft.com/interop/msnovellcollab .
About Novell
Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers infrastructure software for the Open Enterprise. We are a leader in enterprise-wide operating systems based on Linux and open source and the security and systems management services required to operate mixed IT environments. We help our customers minimize cost, complexity and risk, allowing them to focus on innovation and growth. For more information, visit http://www.novell.com .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
NOTE: Microsoft, Windows Server and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Novell is a registered trademark and Software for the Open Enterprise is a trademark of Novell Inc. in the United States and other countries. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Penn, Schoen & Berland Survey Results
Key Findings
Customers benefit from the Novell-Microsoft collaboration. Over nine out of ten Information Technology (IT) Decision Makers approve of the Microsoft and Novell collaboration, believing it will benefit IT customers and increase interoperability of IT systems.
Customers are more likely to choose SUSE Linux as a result of Novell's collaboration with Microsoft . After hearing about the Microsoft and Novell collaboration, over two-thirds say they are more likely to consider deploying SUSE Linux at their corporation. Red Hat users are also very supportive of the agreement between Novell and Microsoft, and are more likely to deploy SUSE Linux at their corporations.
Platform providers should work together to solve interoperability problems. Customers want their platform providers to work together to improve the interoperability of their systems and provide tools that make it easier for the end user to navigate both Linux and Windows environments.
Customers remain concerned about potential intellectual property issues with Linux. Over seven in ten are more likely to deploy Linux with intellectual property rights, which would limit their corporation's exposure to risk. Nearly nine in ten see it as the responsibility of their software vendors to work out intellectual property issues before deploying services.
The Concept
-- Nearly all respondents agree with improving interoperability, products
working well together, and having tools that make it easier to mange
mixed Windows and Linux environments.
-- They believe technology companies should be responsible for the
intellectual property rights.
-- Those with a mixed SUSE Linux and Windows environment have slightly
higher agreement scores on all statements.
Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Ranked by All Agree All Mixed SUSE/ Red Hat
Windows Users
% Agree % Agree % Agree
I want platform providers to
improve the interoperability
of their systems. 97 100 95
Technology companies should
create partnerships to ensure
that their products work well
together. 93 96 89
I want tools that make it easier
to manage IT environments that
have both Windows and Linux. 92 98 94
Technology companies, not end
users or businesses, should take
responsibility for the
intellectual property in the
products they ship and service. 89 96 83
Customers would benefit if leading
Linux distributors and Microsoft
partnered more closely with one
another. 87 92 86
Technology companies should acquire
the intellectual property rights to
their competitors' products when
necessary, so their customers are not
exposed to any risks 82 87 83
My organization would consider
doing more business with Linux
distributors if they had a
technical alliance with
Microsoft. 80 88 75
I am more likely to deploy Linux
that comes with intellectual
property rights, which reduces
my company's exposure to risk. 71 79 87
Microsoft and Novell Partnership
-- Two-thirds are aware of the collaboration between Microsoft and Novell.
- Awareness is higher among those with a mixed SUSE Linux and Windows
environment and Red Hat users.
-- Nearly all respondents approve of the collaboration and believe it will
benefit IT customers and improve the interoperability of IT systems.
-- There is also strong support that the collaboration will lead to
decreased patent infringement risks for IT customers.
Have you heard anything about the
recent collaboration between
Microsoft and Novell? All Mixed SUSE/ Red Hat
Windows Users
Yes 67 81 75
No 33 19 25
ALL RESPONDENTS SAW THE FOLLOWING: On November 2nd, Microsoft and Novell announced a set of broad business and technical collaboration agreements to build, market, and support a series of new solutions to improve interoperability for customers and make Novell and Microsoft products work better together. The two companies also announced an agreement to provide each other's customers with patent coverage for their respective products.
Overall, do you approve of this
collaboration between Novell
and Microsoft? All Mixed SUSE/ Red Hat
Windows Users
Approve 95 100 89
Do not approve 5 0 11
Overall, do you believe this
collaboration will benefit
IT customers? All Mixed SUSE/ Red Hat
Windows Users
Yes 91 98 87
No 9 2 13
Do you believe this
collaboration will improve
the interoperability of
IT systems? All Mixed SUSE/ Red Hat
Windows Users
Yes 90 92 87
No 10 8 13
Do you believe this collaboration
will decrease patent infringement
risks for IT customers? All Mixed SUSE/ Red Hat
Windows Users
Yes 75 88 78
No 25 12 22
-- Respondents agree the collaboration will benefit Microsoft's and
Novell's customers, increase the interoperability of the two companies'
systems and remove potential IP and patent infringement risks.
Based on this collaboration
between Novell and Microsoft,
would you agree or disagree
with the following?
Ranked by All Agree All Mixed SUSE/ Red Hat
Windows Users
% Agree % Agree % Agree
This agreement between Novell
and Microsoft will benefit
both companies' customers. 91 98 87
The agreement will enable
increased interoperability
between Linux and Windows
systems. 88 94 81
With their agreement, Novell
and Microsoft are removing
their customers' potential
risks around intellectual
property and software patent
infringement. 86 92 79
I'm more likely to consider
deploying Novell SUSE Linux
in my company 67 81 79
-- Over three in five respondents think Microsoft is making a stronger
effort to form alliances with other companies.
Do you think Microsoft in general
is making a stronger effort to
form alliances with other
companies so their software works
better with Microsoft's; less of
an effort; or about the same?
Ranked by All All Mixed SUSE/ Red Hat
Windows Users
Stronger effort 61 77 54
About the same 21 13 30
Less of an effort 18 10 16
Does this collaboration make
you more favorable to
Microsoft, less favorable
or have no impact on your
view of Microsoft? All Mixed SUSE/ Red Hat
Windows Users
More favorable 67 83 70
Less favorable 10 4 10
No impact 23 13 21
Demographics
Which of the following operating
systems does your company currently
use in its IT infrastructure?
Please select all that apply.
Multiple responses permitted.
Ranked by All All Mixed SUSE/ Red Hat
Windows Users
Microsoft Windows 98 100 100
Sun Solaris 36 48 59
IBM-AIX 35 48 49
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 31 40 100
Novell SUSE Linux 26 100 33
Free Linux that is not backed
or supported by a commercial
Linux company 19 38 30
Other 8 10 16
Research Overview
Objectives: Measure market perception of the recent collaboration
between Microsoft and Novell.
Methodology: 201 online interviews in the United States.
Timing: November 17 - 20
Audience: Information Technology Decision Makers - An IT executive,
manager or staff whose primary job is either in a formalized
IT, information systems or MIS department, or one who
performs IT functions in a non-IT, ISM, or MIS department,
with significant decision-making authority related to
technology purchases. Their organizations have to have at
least 500 PCs.
PSB did not intentionally target, but tracked results for
ITDMs whose companies deploy both Microsoft Windows and
Novell SUSE Linux and Red Hat Users.
All figures in the report are percentages unless otherwise
noted.
Audience N-Size Margin of Error
@ 90% Confidence
ITDMs 201 + or - 5.8%
Mixed SUSE/Windows 52 + or - 11.4%
Red Hat Users 63 + or - 10.4%
Source: prnewswire
All trademarks and copyrighted information contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
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