Caldera Enhances Program To Support Linux Partners

The Orem-based company recently unveiled enhanced technical and training support for its Global Solutions Partner Program. As part of the program, Caldera has slashed the price on its technical support incident calls to $200 for Premier partners and $350 for Authorized partners, down from $600 each.

Caldera also plans to offer more technical training on Linux products such as Open Linux, Volution Manager and Volution Messaging Server as well as OpenUnix 8, a Unix upgrade released after the company's acquisition of SCO in 2000.

"The [Caldera Partner Council felt pricing needed to come down for accredited partners," said Shaun Cutler, director of partner programs at Caldera, noting the changes were made based on feedback from 15 members of the council, which represents 16,000 solution providers worldwide.

In addition, the Linux vendor plans to debut within the next few months a Web-based support model. One service planned is Volution Online, which will push patches and updates to end users and allow systems to be remotely managed from a Web-based service.

Rival Red Hat offers a similar service, which is getting positive feedback from channel partners and customers.

One Caldera solution provider applauded the enhancements and noted that the vendor's efforts at unifying Unix with Linux following its SCO purchase is a key selling point.

"Caldera is the only Linux company out there with something to offer solution providers and the only company offering a real partner program with potential," said Rich Figer, a vice president at S.B. Stone and Co., Cleveland. "When Caldera acquired SCO they announced that they would be unifying Unix with Linux for business, and they are doing just that."