AOL set to deploy Linux

US internet and media giant America Online (AOL) has asked Linux experts Red Hat to convert some of its systems to the open source operating system in a move to save costs, according to reports in the US.

Sources close to the deal told news agency Reuters that the two companies were in talks to switch AOL from a proprietary Unix environment to an open source one, which analysts said would dramatically cut overheads.

Jupiter Media Metrix analyst Ross Rubin pointed out that AOL does not have a history of handing over control of its systems, but could save millions by cutting out existing licence fees.

"If [AOL] develops extensions to the core operating system, it would be interesting to see how they would share those charges," he told Reuters.

Internet retailer Amazon claims to have saved millions of dollars by switching to open source.