French Linux builder acquires Lycoris

By Matt Whipp

Posted on 16 Jun 2005 at 16:41

French Linux builder Mandriva has chalked up another buy - its third in less than a year.

The latest acquisition for the rapidly growing Linux vendor is Lycoris: a builder of Linux platforms for desktops and PDAs, as well as a Tablet PC edition.

Mandriva is buying key assets from the US-based Lycoris, including the expertise of Lycoris' founder and CEO, Joseph Cheek.

The company intends to combine the Lycoris applications download service within its own Mandriva Club, incorporate respective usergroups and begin joint work on a version of its Mandriva Discovery desktop platform using Lycoris technologies.

Joseph Cheek said: 'Lycoris is especially excited to be part of the new Mandriva team. Merging the unique qualities of our Desktop/LX product with Mandriva's excellent technology will enable both Desktop/LX and Mandriva users to enjoy a superior computing experience.'

Mandriva is already a well-respected builder of Linux desktop systems, but being at least originally based in Europe, having a US presence can only help its cause as it goes up against Lindows' Linspire product for consumers.

Lycoris has about 20,000 paid-up members, and claims hundreds of thousands of users through downloads of its free product.

Mandriva already has a channel into the US and Canada through a deal with publisher O'Reilly brokered a year ago. The company also boasts deals with MacMillan/Pearson and Walmart for its Microtel line.

Equally important is the opportunity this presents to Mandriva to have a crack at Asian markets where Linux is more readily accepted as a Windows alternative. In addition, Lycoris' platforms for PocketPC and Tablet PC devices have also been taken up by hardware vendors in Asia, such as Dialogue and MoBits.

However, Mandriva co-founder Gaël Duval told us that plans to market into the Far East are on the back burner. 'We have no plan for the Asian market for now, although we sell products to Asia through our online store, and Asia is also a significant region for downloads because the Chinese, Japanese (and others) languages are well supported in Mandriva.'

Mandriva - formerly known as Mandrake - has been on something of a buying spree of late. It bought French Linux support company Edge IT in July of last year, followed by a stock acquisition of South American Linux vendor Conectiva (hence the name change) in February, and now Lycoris.

Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed. Duval said his company was still in the market for further acquisitions should the right opportunity present itself.