Corel has announced plans to integrate GraphOn connectivity software into its desktop version of the Linux operating system, thus enabling users to run Windows applications.
Corel signed a deal with GraphOn to use GraphOn's Bridges software in its version of Linux, which was introduced in November. The version of Corel Linux OS containing both Linux client and Windows NT server licenses for GraphOn Bridges is scheduled to ship in mid-2000, said Derek Burney, Corel's executive vice president of engineering.
With the Corel Linux desktop OS, users will be able to remotely access, by dialing-up to a server or connecting to the Internet, Microsoft Windows applications, Corel Windows applications and most other Windows applications residing on a Windows NT server, without having to license any additional software.
Integrating the Bridges connectivity software means a cluster of PCs running on Corel Linux OS, for example, could run native Linux applications and Windows applications from a single Windows-based server shared by the Linux cluster, Burney said.
"It allows Windows applications to be remoted to any client device, maintaining one server and having less powerful machines in the cluster," Burney said.
Just over a year ago, Corel took a 20 per cent stake in GraphOn when it sold the company its jBridge software, which Corel had developed as Windows technology. GraphOn had similar technology for the Unix operating system, and the company now has taken it to the next stage, Burney said.
The move to further cozy up to Linux follows Corel's announcement last month that its fourth-quarter results are expected to be disappointing because of poor sales of its Windows products.
The news helped Corel's stock rally in trading on the Nasdaq. It closed at 21 1/8, an increase of 35 per cent over yesterday's close.
