Microsoft Pays Novell Big Bucks

And what does Microsoft get? Good question. They deal is supposed to make Microsoft technology work better with Linux. Microsoft says that it is doing this based on their own customer’s demand. Check this out:

Microsoft Paying Novell $348 Million in Linux Deal

“SEATTLE — Software maker Novell Corp. (NOVL) said on Tuesday Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) will make two separate up-front payments totaling $348 million to the company under an agreement to allow Novell’s open-source Linux software to work with Windows. Microsoft will pay Novell $240 million up front in subscription fees to allow the world’s largest software maker to use its Linux software. Microsoft will pay an additional $108 million up-front for use of patents, Novell said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.”

$348 MILLION! It does make you think. What is Microsoft up to? Linux itself is free and Open Source. SuSE Linux is just one company’s version based on free source code. Things to make you go, “Hummmmmm.”