Open Projects Net, home to free software projects as Debian GNU/Linux, Enlightenment, handhelds.org, Jabber, KDE, kernelnewbies, PocketLinux, Vorbis, etc, has embarked on a program of expansion in order to increase its rate of growth and thereby continue to be self-sustaining.

IBM is looking for Linux solutions providers. Under its Linux-focused `You Pass, We Pay program,' IBM will reimburse business partners for up to $3,000 in tuition and test expenses for each employee who gets certified via the Linux Professional Institute or Red Hat Linux.

Visara, Inc., a host connectivity solutions and thin-client desktops provider, has introduced two Linux desktops - the 1883 Network Computing Terminal (NCT) and the eTerm 450Plus Linux-based Terminal. These desktops provide customers a choice in operating system, functionality, connectivity, and application.

Linux operating system will likely drive much of IBM's new business. IBM is hoping to attract users through the ability of mainframes to run virtually thousands of Linux server applications within a single box. It also plans to attract users with the increasing availability of Linux-enabled mainframe tools and software.

According to Ziff Davis, Torvalds' employer is getting set to release source code for its shaved-down, memory- and energy-efficient version of Linux. Transmeta should be posting the source code for its Mobile Linux operating system to its Web site before they set up the display booth at Germany's CeBIT in mid-March.

Caldera has announced its quarterly financial results. According to the company, net losses for the quarter totalled less than this time last year, and were only higher than last quarter because of the expenses associated with its acquisition of SCO.

Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, has acknowledged that Linux has become its No. 1 threat. The IDC numbers underscore that position. Although the figures show that Windows shipments increased 20 percent, Linux outpaced it with a 24 percent increase. Linux grabbed 27 percent market share in 2000, up from 25 percent the previous year.

"With giants such as Home Depot and Musicland already planning to roll out Linux on some 25,000 terminals between them in 2001, we can expect Linux shipments to rise some 300-400% this year," says Greg Buzek, President, IHL Consulting Group.

IBM is extending its educational and certification programs to include Linux at its IBM PartnerWorld 2001 conference this week. The company's partners are just beginning to move into the open source operating system and want to learn more about it.

Red Hat has acquired Planning Technologies, an Atlanta-based consulting service that focuses on infrastructure. The acquisition strengthens Red Hat's strategy to offer open source solutions for software and a broad choice of services with Red Hat Network as the backbone for deployment and management.