Betting on strong government support for the Linux operating system in preference to Microsoft's Windows, Oracle and Dell Computer on Thursday nnounced they would extend their global Linux partnership into China.
At a news conference, they said their main aim was to offer Oracle database solutions on Dell Linux software to China's 10 million small businesses, which were eager for modern technology but did not know what to buy because of a lack of money, staff and experience.
Such firms were expected to spend 215.1 billion yuan on information technology infrastructure next year, they said.
Loke Soon Choo, Oracle managing director for Greater China, said Linux was growing at more than 100 per cent a year in the Asia-Pacific, in part because of eager encouragement by governments.
In April last year, Oracle set up a research and development centre in Beijing with Red Flag Linux, a key domestic firm.
'Linux will grow very fast in China. Both Dell and Oracle use it for their internal systems,' Mr Loke said.