Mandriva to provide local Linux support

Mandriva UK Limited to provide local distribution and support for Linux customers

Linux vendor Mandriva now has a presence in Britain after the formation of Mandriva UK Limited. The company said it aims to provide local distribution of Mandriva Linux and other open-source applications throughout the UK.

Mandriva UK said its goal is to develop a nationwide support network for local customers, who will have access to a problem and solutions database, and priority problem solving via a private questions and answers form. This database will be available from July, according to the firm.

The new company is seeking to make Mandriva more widely available through bundling on systems available to corporate and consumer customers. It also said it plans to build up Mandriva authorised education centres to provide certified Linux training and thus create a network of certified Linux engineers and professionals.

“The major truth that we have known from our experiences during the recent years is that close strategic partnerships are vital to optimise growth and long-term success. I believe that the UK is a very attractive place for Mandriva,” said Mandriva partnership manager Gaurav Parakh.

Mandriva, formerly known as Mandrakesoft, recently introduced Mandriva Corporate Desktop 4.0. This release improves integration with corporate infrastructure by means of a new tool to set KDE user rights from an LDAP directory.

Other new features include simplified configuration of secure remote access and 3G data cards to better support laptop users, and a re-designed desktop user interface that supports the latest 3D technologies, such as Xgl, AIGLX and Metisse. The firm said the new version can be extensively customised thanks to a new post-installation tool.