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Open source solutions provider Red Hat (NYSE: RHT) has joined the Interop Vendor Alliance in an effort to make its products more interoperable with Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) extensive environment.
The move makes Red Hat the latest in a growing line of Linux distributors cozying up with Redmond by joining the alliance -- a group of tech companies working together to make their products work with Microsoft's product line.
Middleware Focus
Most of Red Hat's work with the group will focus on making its middleware more compatible with Microsoft's, building on previous efforts undertaken by its JBoss division.
"We will work with industry vendors to ensure that the Red Hat customer experience is transparent and seamless in spite of heterogeneous environments," Shaun Connolly, vice president of product management at Red Hat, told LinuxInsider.
The goal is to ensure that its products can perform well in environments in which Windows also plays a big role, Connolly said, adding that the company is looking to make sure its user experience is "transparent and seamless, in spite of heterogeneous environments."
Building an Alliance
Red Hat's membership in the alliance continues the interoperability work started by its JBoss division 18 months ago to optimize JBoss Enterprise Middleware on the Windows platform, said Connolly.
Red Hat acquired JBoss last April.
Now, Red Hat is hoping to continue to find new ways to strengthen product performance within Windows environments.
"The Interop Vendor Alliance is expanding that philosophy by opening up more communication with Microsoft," said Connolly.
Other Deals With Microsoft
Vendors seem to be lining up to work with Redmond of late, as a flurry of agreements have put the software giant at the center of the interoperability issue.
Earlier this week, Novell (Nasdaq: NOVL) inked a deal with Microsoft outlining plans for increase cooperation in designing products to work in either Windows or Linux environments.
An increasing number of Linux distributors are joining the alliance and striking deals with Microsoft in an effort to increase their own business opportunities.
"These types of alliances are helping to create a more open process between us and Microsoft," said Connolly.
Other members of the Interop Vendor Alliance include BEA Software, CA, EMC and Sun Microsystems.
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