Ubuntu gets into unified comms, chides Microsoft
Says new suite more sweet for SMBs
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Canonical has signed an agreement with Unison Technologies to offer a complete unified communications suite for small to medium-sized firms running Ubuntu Linux.
Unison’s software, which will be sold via Canonical’s online store, will run on Ubuntu Server and under beta for Ubuntu Desktop Edition.
Ubuntu’s sponsor Canonical unsurprisingly took the opportunity to have a pop at software propriety beast Microsoft.
“With Unison now available on Ubuntu, businesses at last have a class-leading solution for messaging and unified communications – removing another barrier to widespread adoption of Linux,” it said. “Given costs just a fraction of a PC with Microsoft Windows, Office and Outlook, the combination of Ubuntu and Unison represents a serious alternative for business IT.”
Unison chief exec Michael Choupak agreed that running his software on Linux-based Ubuntu was “far more affordable than the Microsoft alternative” for SMBs that have between 20 and 1000 staff.
The software bundle includes email, instant messaging, contacts and calendar apps - these can run on a single Unison server which can then run on top of Ubuntu Server.
Businesses interested in parting with a bit of cash in exchange for the suite have the option of coughing up £25 ($50) per user per year or £18,000 ($36,000) for a perpetual one-off licence with unlimited users.
Financial details of the Unison/Canonical deal were kept secret. This way for more from the two firms. ®
COMMENTS
Ubuntu? On a Server?
Let's all have less stability than Windows! This is just a halfassed attempt by Canonical to become profitable. If this startup had any brains they'd ally themselves with Red Hat if they need a corporate sponsor.
@ Goat Jam
"Except for the "perpetual" licence bit."
It depends on the number of licenses. $36k is one year for 720 users, according with the article, so in between the 20-1000 employees they mention as SMB, or whatever. My university employs thousands, for example, so I guess it would be a better deal to pay $36k once.
If the software is any good, that I have no clue. :-)
Mac OS X
Where is the Mac OS X version, for a truly portable(TM) desktop side (as long as the LInux version compiles for BSD etc)
Paris, because she knows how things fit.
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