Microsoft is training around 140 of its consultants in Linux and Java, acknowledging the growing threat posed by these rival technologies.

Sources close to Microsoft indicated that the consultants, based around the world, would be given training in open source operating system and Sun's programming language, with which Microsoft's C sharp competes.

But the software giant claimed the training was about enabling consultants to understand other options that Microsoft's customers might be offered and that there was no fixed quota of consultants undergoing the programme.

"There is no defined number of people Microsoft Services will have trained in Linux and Java 2 Enterprise Edition [J2EE]," Microsoft communications manager Larry Meadows told vnunet.com.

"There are no hard and fast rules around how many consultants are trained and on what particular technologies."

Meadows added: "Microsoft always takes the time to truly understand all of the competitive products our customers may be considering," he explained.

"Microsoft Services is taking steps to ensure that our consultants are better trained in competitive technologies, including Linux and J2EE, in order to be better equipped when advising customers and recommending Microsoft products and technologies."

Peter Houston, senior director of Windows server strategies at Microsoft, acknowledged the competition from Linux in two areas.

"There are two main areas where we see Linux. First as an operating system for re-hosting Unix applications onto x86-based hardware. Second as a way to provide simple, low-end services such as file and print," he said.

Re-hosting represented both an opportunity and a challenge to Microsoft, while Windows Server 2003 delivered improvements in file and print, according to Houston.

"Microsoft's opportunity is to demonstrate the value of the Windows platform to Unix customers," he said.

"Windows 2003 delivers greater programmer productivity and faster time to market, further increasing the value of Windows platforms to customers versus Linux."

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