In a major boost to open source software 'Ubuntu', computer major Dell India has decided to sell personal computer based on the free operating system. In a statement, Canonical, which is the sponsor of Ubuntu software project, said that it has "entered into agreement with Dell to sell PCs loaded with Ubuntu".
The Ubuntu OS will be loaded on Dell laptops and netbooks only.
"The machines -including the new Inspiron 14R and 15R- will be available with Ubuntu pre-installed from June 21 and more models are slated for release later in the year," Canonical CEO Jane Silber told reporters here.
Dell, at present, sells PCs loaded with proprietary Microsoft Windows operating system, which is a paid software. Canonical provides Ubuntu software free of cost but charges for the technical support if required by users. "The Ubuntu loaded PCs will be sold in 850 retail outlets in India," Silber said.
She added that the deal is part of company's strategy to increase penetration in India market. "Our focus is to build private cloud computing system for business houses in India. There is huge opportunity for companies to reduce their cost by deploying Ubuntu by replacing their proprietary OS," Silber said.
In cloud computing system, companies do not need to buy software but they can use it buy paying fraction of price like a rent for using it.