By pooling their efforts and potential, Red Hat intends to introduce a full-fledged Red Hat Linux network on Russian territory. Red Hat currently controls relatively small eastern European markets. Werner Knoblich, Red Hat director for Europe, the Middle East and Asia, claims that the situation may soon change drastically. Mr. Knoblich even mentioned some preliminary statistics. Linux is spreading quickly all over the world and we are sure that the company's Russian market will increase to tens of million dollars in the near future, he stressed. The IDC analytical company predicts that the Linux technical-services market will be worth $39 million next year.
The company's Russian partners are pinning high hopes on Linux. R-Style will establish the so-called first-level Linux technical-support center next year. That center is expected to provide professional consultative services and other kinds of assistance to Linux users. MFTI specialists will provide second-level technical support. Igor Petrov, chief of MFTI's IT department, believes that the introduction of the Linux operating system will become a landmark event in promoting new open technologies. "I am convinced that we will witness of serious upturn in the Russian economy," the scientist says. "And I hope that Open Source will become a good assistant to Russian business and the state."
