Unilever backs Linux consortium

Consumer product giant Unilever has become the first non-IT company to join the Open Source Development Lab (OSDL), the Linux consortium which is home to Linus Torvalds.

Unilever announced plans last January to migrate its systems from Unix to Linux on Intel hardware in all 80 countries in which it operates.

"Unilever's goal is to standardise its IT architecture around Linux and deliver computer systems worldwide without having to worry about operating system or hardware compatibility issues," said Colin Hope-Murray, chief technology officer of the global IT infrastructure group at Unilever.

"OSDL gives us a venue where we can work directly with the world's major IT vendors and with the open source development community on an equal basis to participate in the growth of Linux."

Stuart Cohen, chief executive at the OSDL, added: "Unilever is a significant addition to OSDL's membership and is the first of many Global 2000 corporations that we expect will be joining us to contribute in improving Linux.

"We have expanded our charter to increase our participation in the Linux development community and with IT vendors and Unilever to begin investing in more programmes for corporations to help ensure that Linux meets their requirements and solves their real-world business problems."

The OSDL is a non-profit organisation aiming to promote enterprise Linux adoption.

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