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Canonical, sponsors of the Ubuntu Linux project are announcing the Ubuntu Partnership Programme. Designed to recognise and reward expertise and experience, the Partnership Programme is open to both businesses and individuals who have shown technical and commercial success with Ubuntu Linux.
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(PRWEB) October 5, 2005 -- Canonical Ltd is pleased to announce the Ubuntu Partnership Programme, designed specifically to encourage, recognise and endorse expertise and commercial initiatives aimed at furthering the use of Ubuntu. Since its launch in October 2004, the Debian Linux based Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com) has become one of the most popular Linux distributions in the world. With so many Ubuntu installations, there has been a steady growth in the number of businesses using Ubuntu as a cornerstone to the provision of their solutions and support.
To help these companies and individuals, the Partnership Programme will develop and enlarge the healthy ecosystem around Ubuntu. The Partnership Programme will enable both companies and individuals to benefit from this remarkable growth in the interest and implementation of Ubuntu.
Canonical Ltd will lead the programme, and will work with partners that can show a qualified level of expertise in Ubuntu, as well as the commercial awareness to succeed in their chosen business area. The programme will enable companies to focus on Ubuntu as a major business opportunity, and individuals to become a recognised part of the Ubuntu team.
“There are many businesses who rely on Ubuntu to deliver solutions to their clients, and with the launch of the Ubuntu Partnership Programme, they can now benefit from formalised support and education, delivered by professional business partners.“ explained Mark Shuttleworth, founder of the Ubuntu project.
Three levels to suit the broadest range of partners
The programme consists of three tiers, based upon technical and commercial proficiency, and each is defined by acquiring points, related to skills or activities, to enter or progress through the levels.
Level I - Ubuntu Affiliate
designed to recognise organisations around the world that have taken steps to certify the Ubuntu skills of their developers and support staff
Level II - Ubuntu Partner
for organisations that have demonstrated a higher level of Ubuntu expertise and have a commercial relationship with Canonical. Partners participate in the development of Ubuntu and are able to help shape the future direction of the distribution
Level III - Ubuntu Gold Partner
the highest tier in the Partnership Programme. This status is awarded to organisations with extensive Ubuntu expertise demonstrated over a wide range of activities. They have a significant number of developers and support personnel with certified Ubuntu skills and are able to address complex technical issues
As the partners become more experienced with Ubuntu, have more trained staff on board, and become known for their excellence in delivering solutions to their customers, their investment will be recognised with the appropriate partnership tier.
An entry level entitlement, available to all members of the programme, includes the use of a unique partnership logo, and a preferred listing in the Ubuntu Marketplace - a web directory of Ubuntu related goods, services and providers.
Additional, progressive benefits are available for each partnership level. For example Canonical will share leads and opportunities with qualified partners around the world to enable them to grow both their revenue and their customer base.
Canonical has been working with some business partners already and that experience has been incorporated into the Partnership Programme. As Muggie van Staden, Managing Director of Obsidian Systems in South Africa says “ Obsidian has been working with Canonical since May 2005 with great success. It is an exciting time in the open source world and it is a pleasure working with an exciting company like Canonical. Being able to offer Ubuntu based solutions to our customers has improved our product offerings, and our close relationship with Canonical allows us to provide our customers with professional service and peace of mind.”
Full details of the programme are available at
http://www.ubuntu.com/partners/program
About Ubuntu
Since its launch in October 2004, Ubuntu has become one of the most highly regarded Linux distributions, with millions distributed and in use around the world. Based on Debian, Ubuntu will always be free, and will not have restrictive licenses associated with it. With these goals in mind at all times, Ubuntu aims to be the most widely used of all Linux systems, and is the centre of a global open source software ecosystem.
About Canonical
Canonical Ltd. is committed to the development, distribution and promotion of open source software products, and to providing tools and support to the open source community. With a global organisation headquartered in the Isle of Man, Canonical has employees throughout Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Australia.
Contact
Malcolm Yates
+44 20 7052 9842
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