Intel, Novell say Linux gains on Microsoft Brazil

SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) - Intel and Novell on Monday said Linux is gaining on Microsoft's Windows operating system in Brazil thanks to government policies pushing open source software.

"More and more you will hear about free software, Linux, principally in the government and corporate environments, and less about Windows," Oscar Clarke, head of Intel in Brazil, said at a press conference. "It's an inexorable trend."

Encouraged by what it sees as fertile ground for the spread of free software in the country, Novell released on Monday a new package of Linux-based programs for desktop computers called Novell Linux Desktop in Brazil.

The package includes word processing and Internet browsing software, among other tools.

Snip

In Brazil, the free software movement has gained considerable backing from the government, which is pushing ministries to adopt open-source software to cut the cost of proprietary software like Windows.

Last week, the government unveiled a program that will subsidize cheap computers for the poor that will run on Linux.

"In the globalized economy, we develop our platforms to attend the needs of the market, which in Brazil is every day more Linux-based," said Intel's Clarke.

Look out Microsoft, here comes Linux.

Semper Fi