Tags: AOL, HP, IBM, Linux, Massachusetts, Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, Netscape Certificate Management System, Netscape Directory Server, Red Hat, Sun Microsystems, Westford

Red Hat plans to bring Linux to Primetime Desktop Machines

Continuing the trend of staying in news since the last couple of weeks, Red Hat took the next step to heat up the desktop operating system market. The Linux Company appointed former Sun Microsystems VP Karen Tegan Padir as VP of Red Hat’s new desktop infrastructure technologies group. The move is aimed to provide a desktop version of Linux that can compete with Microsoft Windows heads on. Linux machines are already sold by many big PC manufacturers like HP and IBM, but they are nowhere promoted as much as the generic windows powered machines.

Red Hat plans to change this and more with being a more active player in the desktop Linux market. The trends show that many businesses are looking forward to open source applications. If this can be extended to desktops, a more formidable competitor to Microsoft’s monopoly in OS market can be showcased.

Red Hat already made news when they acquired Netscape Directory Server and Netscape Certificate Management System from AOL for a reported sum of $23 million. These applications are going to help Red Hat to integrate desktop systems with networking services, which were not available earlier. Newly hired VP Karen Tegan Padir would be working from Red Hat’s Engineering Competency Center in Westford, Massachusetts.