Rumour: Microsoft Executives-Run Company to Buy Novell (Updated)

Dr. Roy Schestowitz

2010-07-02 14:59:57 UTC
Modified: 2010-07-02 18:25:27 UTC

EMC and Microsoft

Summary: Defensible rumours have begun floating about, saying that VMware's deal with Novell will become more than just a collaboration deal

SEVERAL weeks ago we wrote that VMware, which is run by former Microsoft employees after EMC's intervention, might buy Novell.

There are now concurring rumours about it:

This week I’ve had some questions from people on how this “Strategic Partnership” between Novell and VMware, could be the first step to VMware buying Novell or a number of products from Novell. This got me thinking on if that could really be an interesting move for VMware.

The VAR Guy cites the above and writes:

VMware and Novell: Merger Rumor or More?

The speculation won’t go away. Several companies apparently have bid to acquire Novell. Some pundits think VMware is among the bidders. Why’s that? The short answer involves a mutual enemy called, um, Red Hat (assuming you believe the rumor).

[...]

The VAR Guy wonders: Does VMware see the market similarly? If so, does that mean VMware is willing to pay $2 billion or more to acquire Novell? Plenty of open source pundits are speculating about a potential VMware-Novell merger or acquisition.

The Microsoft booster links to both of the above [1, 2]. As we explained twice last month, VMware is against Red Hat [1, 2]. A takeover of Novell would put former Microsoft executives like Maritz on top of Novell. ⬆

Update: Sam Dean considers this takeover unlikely.

Comments

Agent_Smith

2010-07-04 17:05:36

What if this comes to happen ??? Unless VMware is sitting on a gold mine, it's like 2 billion US dollars thrown through the window. They'll buy Suse ??? And so what ??? Novell bought Suse, only to weaken the distro, more and more. The only upper hand is the virtualization business, which VMware does best, try to get into Red Hat's space. But, I don't think they have the expertise to do that. 10 Novells and M$ can't do ONE Red Hat. Sure they can get in the way, but I guess it will flop, as Novell's Suse is not a successful brand as it once was (before Novell)

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