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CALDERA. ANNOUNCES OPEN SOURCE CODE MODEL FOR DOS
DR DOS. + the Internet = Caldera OpenDOS
PROVO, Utah Sept. 10, 1996 Caldera. Inc. today announced that it will openly distribute the source code for DOS via the Internet as part of the company's plans to encourage continued development of DOS technologies and applications, further leveling the playing field for software developers worldwide. This effort, targeted to benefit both individual developers and industry partners, follows Caldera's commitment to embrace and fund an open software environment. Caldera also announced plans for internal development and marketing of DOS, including a new product called Caldera OpenDOS .
"DOS continues to meet the technical and financial requirements of a large portion of the computing industry, especially in the areas of network computing devices, specialized game devices and embedded systems," said Bryan Sparks, President and CEO of Caldera, Inc. "Publishing source code for DOS will benefit a large number of independent and in-house developers creating customized solutions based on DOS."
Caldera plans to openly distribute the source code for all of the DOS technologies it acquired from Novell., Inc. on July 23, including CP/M., DR DOS., PalmDOS., Multi-User DOS. and Novell DOS 7.. Pending an evaluation and organization of the the technologies, the source code will be made available from Caldera's web site during Q1 1997. Caldera learned from its early investment in Linux technologies that the commercial market is now ready to embrace open technology standards for operating systems.
Benefits of an Open Technology Model
Caldera believes an open source code model benefits the industry in many ways. This model: * Increases competition, which historically leads to higher-quality and lower-cost products. * Decreases the time-to-market of innovative software. * Facilitates creation of customized solutions by developers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Value Added Resellers (VARs) for even the most highly-specialized computing environments. * Extends market implementation of mature, proven technologies historically de-emphasized by major software vendors who favor new, resource-intensive technologies. Empowers independent developers to influence future technology advancements. * Creates a large pool of individuals with broad knowledge of DOS, increasing availability of technical support and consulting for end users, historically at a lower cost and with quicker response time.
Existing/Potential DOS Markets
"The day Caldera announced its purchase of DOS, we were inspired by the number of calls and email we received from end users, development partners and OEMs who wanted to buy or license the technology," said Ransom Love, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Caldera. "They continue to be extremely interested in DOS and support our open-source technology direction. We have more than sufficient evidence to believe that the development and end user communities are responding favorably to our efforts with DOS."
Caldera lists the greatest existing and potential markets for DOS technologies as: * network computing devices * specialized game devices * refurbished 286/386 Intel.-compatible computers (desktop and other) * embedded systems (interactive kiosks; automated retail devices, like pay-at-the pump systems; medical, industrial and banking devices; and other niche market solutions requiring an operating system with low memory requirements and minimal development costs.) * licensing individual DOS components for usage in turnkey solutions (For example, using a DOS boot sector to load a virus scanning utility).
OEMs and Channel Partners
Caldera is currently in OEM negotiations with potential partners that sell products to each of the markets listed above. Caldera's comprehensive OEM program enables OEMs to license Caldera OpenDOS and Caldera OpenLinux as part of a complete set of network and stand-alone solutions. Caldera's leveraged, open- systems model will enable OEM partners to leverage aggressive pricing and shorter development cycles. Caldera plans to release a version of DOS for OEM implementation by December 1996. Caldera's OEM and Channel Partners can utilize the open-source code models for DOS and Linux to create low-cost, custom applications and enhanced utilities for vertical and niche markets. Caldera enables its partners to integrate stable, low-cost Internet devices with the most powerful Internet server platforms and commercial add-on products. Caldera's support for the open-source code model provides partners with maximum flexibility in providing more complete product and service solutions.
Individuals can use OpenDOS source for personal use at no cost. Individuals and organizations desiring to commercially redistribute Caldera OpenDOS must acquire a license with an associated small fee. Source code for proprietary third-party components of Novell DOS 7 will not be published.
Why Did Caldera Want DOS?
Caldera's system software products are based on Linux technologies, including networking and Internet protocols, and other technologies common to UNIX.-based systems. Linux technologies include a DOS box, which allows end users to run DOS applications in Linux system software environments. From the company's inception in October 1994, Caldera planned to license and integrate DOS with its Linux-based software products. These plans included the addition of Internet connectivity tools to DOS, enabling DOS to function as a light-weight, stand-alone client to the Internet, or to Linux when used as a workgroup server. By December 1996, Caldera will integrate DOS with the company's next versions of system software products, including the Caldera Network Desktop. By including DOS, Caldera will ease installation and improve compatibility for simultaneous use of DOS and Linux.
DOS Retail Package
Industry statistics show that DOS operating system products continue to maintain high market share. Industry distribution giant Merisel. lists MS DOS 2nd in the Operating System category on the Retail HOT LIST and 3rd in the same category on the VAR HOT LIST for September 1996.
DOS versions of mainstream software applications are listed throughout the Business; Personal Productivity; Education & Recreation; DTP, Presentation & Graphics; Utilities; and Languages sections of both the Merisel Retail and VAR HOT LISTS. (Visit Merisel's HOT LISTS at [1]http://www.merisel.com/17000001.htm and [2]http://www.merisel.com/50000001.htm.)
In Spring 1997, Caldera will release Caldera OpenDOS, the first commercial-grade, open-source code DOS product. Caldera OpenDOS will build upon its predecessors (CP/M, DR DOS and Novell DOS 7) by adding Novell Personal NetWare , bug fixes to Novell DOS 7 and additional networking capabilities. Potential technologies under consideration include a graphical user interface (GUI); Internet web browser; TCP/IP stack; and other Internet connectivity services. This aggressive update to DOS will leverage internal and third-party development.
Caldera OpenDOS will protect the investments made in existing 286/386 Intel-compatible environments, where DOS meets both the technological and financial requirements of many end users and organizations. By incorporating new technologies, like Internet connectivity, and by openly publishing the source code for DOS to the Internet, Caldera hopes to encourage continued application development that utilizes this established, stable technology.
Technical Support for DOS
Caldera's technical support philosophy focuses on providing installation support to end users and long-term engineering support to Caldera's channel, OEM and third-party developer partners. Caldera's technical support objective is to develop a solid network of channel partners who serve as the primary front-line for technical support on Caldera products. Caldera provides its customers with free installation support during a specified time period and encourages customers to utilize the free, service-rich technical support environment on Caldera's World Wide Web site and available from peers via the Internet. Caldera also offers fee-based direct support options beyond the complimentary installation and Internet services.
The DOS environment already enjoys an established pool of local resellers who offer high-quality support for reasonable fees.
DOS users will also benefit from the exchange of technical support that occurs between end users in an open-source development environment. For example, the community of Linux users connected via the Internet provide each other with technical support for Linux-based products that surpasses the quality, speed and value of technical support historically provided by major industry software vendors. Caldera believes that openly publishing the source code for DOS will create a similar environment.
Caldera designs, develops and markets to consumers and businesses a line of full-featured, economical system software for the Internet, by the Internet, providing stable, high-quality alternatives to Windows NT., Sun Solaris. and SCO UNIX.. It uses its own technological and marketing resources to leverage technologies including the Linux operating system created by independent developers worldwide. Caldera's web site is at [3]http://www.caldera.com/.
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Caldera is a registered trademark; and Caldera Network Desktop, Caldera Internet Office Suite, Caldera Solutions CD, Caldera Open Linux and Caldera OpenDOS are trademarks of Caldera, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark, in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company Limited. All other products, services and publications are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Caldera Press Contact:
Lyle Ball Nancy Pomeroy [4]lyle.ball@caldera.com [5]nancy@caldera.com Tel: (801) 229-1675 x305 Tel: (801) 229-1675 x206
References
1. http://www.merisel.com/17000001.htm 2. http://www.merisel.com/50000001.htm 3. http://www.caldera.com/ 4. mailto:lyle.ball@caldera.com 5. mailto:nancy@caldera.com