Canonical, Ubuntu Get A Virtual Lift

Two key partners — IBM and Virtual Bridges — seem to be giving Canonical and Ubuntu a substantial lift. Specifically, IBM and Virtual Bridges have been lining up channel partners and customers that are embracing virtualized Ubuntu desktops.

IBM, Virtual Bridges and Canonical first announced their joint efforts back in December 2008. Today, the trio provided an update on that work. During the first quarter of 2009, sixteen new VARs and integrators signed up to support Virtual Bridges’ software — which centralizes and virtualizes Ubuntu desktops on IBM servers.

True believers include Midas Networks, a managed service provider in Austin, Texas, that is hosting virtualized Linux desktops for customers — using a Software as a Service (SaaS) architecture.

Also today, IBM released a research report claiming Linux desktops are easier to implement than IT staff expected — if the deployments targeted ideal user groups.

Read more at Works With U