Shifting its focus to include the development of open source software for telecommunications, Red Hat has reportedly launched a Telecommunications Partner Program.
According to a company
press release, the program aims to raise awareness about the availability of open source platforms for telecommunications and to promote Red Hat’s products. The program is designed strengthen Red Hat’s existing relationships with leading network equipment providers (NEPs), OEMs, telecommunications ISVs and operators.
The move makes sense since the telecommunications industry is now starting to embrace integrated Linux hardware and software platforms targeting telcos’ specific needs. Network applications are largely being viewed as a new cash cow for software developers, and Red Hat and its partners know they stand to gain from this.
Numerous partners, including HP and IBM (
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Alert), have already committed to the effort. In the press release, Red Hat said it will be working with both firms to build carrier-grade equipment with Red Hat Enterprise Linux. The partners will promote the open-source gear as an alternative to proprietary telecommunications platforms.
Other companies are undertaking similar efforts. Earlier this month, Motorola (
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Alert) launched a line of servers for the telecom market equipped with Monta Vista Carrier Grade Linux - and Texas Instruments recently announced that it has become a member of the Linux Phone Standards Forum.
HP is increasing its emphasis on open source solutions as well.
“HP offers a broad array of solutions in the communications, media and entertainment markets for both carrier-grade and enterprise deployments," said Christine Martino, vice president of Open Source and Linux Organization at HP, in a statement. "HP is winning in these converging markets by offering customers more choice through the HP Advanced Open Telecom Platform. This includes integrated, open-source efforts developed with partners like Red Hat.”
As part of the program, Red Hat also plans to provide services and support to software developers to encourage them to adopt open source alternatives.
“The Telecommunications Partner Program brings together members of the telecommunications ecosystem to accelerate the delivery of reliable, high-performance solutions that substantially reduce capital cost and operating expenses for service providers,” said Tim Yeaton, senior vice president of worldwide marketing and general manager of enterprise products for Red Hat. “Our strong partnerships with the hardware (original equipment manufacturers), network equipment providers and the (independent software vendor) community are helping to drive our range of software deeper into the network data center.”
IBM, which partners with Red Hat on other projects as well, will include Red Hat applications as part of its Platform for Telecom initiative.
“Solutions based on industry-standard hardware and Linux are gaining momentum in the telecommunications industry as a more cost-effective and flexible alternative to expensive proprietary platforms,” said Scott Handy, vice president, of Worldwide Linux and Open Source at IBM. “IBM is pleased to partner with Red Hat to build carrier-grade platforms and solutions with IBM’s Platform For Telecom (IPT) and Red Hat Enterprise Linux.”
In another telecommunications software pact announced this week, Nortel and Microsoft (
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Alert) have signed a four-year development contract.
For more information about Red Hat’s telecommunications solutions, visit
http://www.redhat.com/solutions/teleco. For ISVs interested in Red Hat partner programs, visit
http://www.redhat.com/solutions/partners/.
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Patrick Barnard is Associate Editor for TMCnet and a columnist covering the telecom industry. To see more of his articles, please visit Patrick Barnard’s columnist page.
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