AMD and RealNetworks Sign on as Key Sponsors at Premier Linux and Open Source Conference

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The Desktop Summit today announced that AMD, RealNetworks, Linspire, and other major tech companies have been added to the roster for the only event to focus exclusively on Linux and open source for the desktop. Rob Glaser, CEO of RealNetworks, has been confirmed as a keynote speaker, joining Mitch Kapor, creator of Lotus 1-2-3 and founder of the Mozilla Foundation, Michael Robertson, CEO of Linspire, Inc., and Doc Searls, Senior Editor at Linux Journal. The highly anticipated Summit, to take place on February 9-11 in San Diego, California, is now open for sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees to register at http://www.desktopsummit.com. Early-bird registration is only $99 including meals and a free T-shirt, and sponsorships start at only $750.

Unlike other Linux conferences and tradeshows, the Desktop Summit tailors its focus toward consumer-based Linux and open source applications for the desktop. The Desktop Summit will have demonstrations, discussions, and exhibits specifically targeted toward home and business users who are looking to explore lower-cost computing options.

Highlights of the show include five-hour blocks dedicated to open source innovators Mozilla and OpenOffice.org, plus gaming tournaments, product demonstrations, software reviews and corporate exhibitions. The OpenOffice.org portion of the conference, dubbed OOoRegiCon, will highlight office technologies and using the flagship product, plus a preview its OpenOffice.org 2.0 release. Mozilla's block will highlight the popular Internet browser Firefox, plus new email and scheduling programs like Thunderbird.

In addition to the high-caliber keynote speakers, the Desktop Summit will include panel discussions focusing on topics in desktop Linux like Emerging Markets, Commercial Enterprise Deployment, Entertainment, International Opportunities, and more. The Linux Professional Institute will be offering steeply discounted certifications at the event. For a schedule of events, please visit http://www.desktopsummit.com.

Keynote speaker Glaser will speak on "Digital Media on the Desktop: Where We Are and What is Next." Founder and CEO of RealNetworks, Inc., Glaser has long been intrigued with the nexus of media, computing, communication and the Internet. Since founding Real in 1994, Glaser has played an integral role in the transformation of the Internet into the next great mass medium, including the introduction of the groundbreaking RealAudio, RealVideo, RealPlayer and systems to distribute audio and video including the Helix technologies.

In addition to AMD (http://www.amd.com), RealNetworks (http://www.real.com), and Linspire (http://www.linspire.com), a number of companies have signed on as sponsors for the Desktop Summit 2005, including Sub300 (Sub300.com), Via Technologies (http://www.viatech.com), NeTraverse (http://www.netraverse.com), GarageGames (http://www.garagegames.com), SoftMaker (http://www.softmaker.com), deviantArt (http://www.deviantart.com), Barracuda Networks (http://www.barracudanetworks.com), and New Avenue Systems (http://www.newavenue.net). These innovative companies will be joining key sponsors AMD, RealNetworks, Inc., and Linspire, Inc. as official supporters of the event. Several top publications have also been added as media sponsors to the event, including the Linux Journal (http://www.linuxjournal.com), OSDir.com, LinuxQuestions.org, and SignOnSanDiego.com.

Taking place at the beautiful Del Mar Fairgrounds, the Desktop Summit 2005 will be from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on February 9 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on February 10 and 11, 2005. In anticipation of high interest in the growing desktop Linux movement, the venue will accommodate up to 1,000 attendees and is expected to sell out quickly at the early-bird rate of $99. Details and registration are available at http://www.desktopsummit.com. For more information, please contact:

Heather MacKenzie

Desktop Summit Event Manager

info@desktopsummit.com

858.587.6700 x 263 About the Desktop Summit

The Desktop Summit (http://www.desktopsummit.com) is the premier event for companies that sell, market, or promote open source or desktop Linux-based products, services, applications, and technologies. The event, in its third year, is the only venue to focus exclusively on this emerging technology sector. Focused on the issues of Linux on the desktop, the program brings together the top industry leaders in one location.