Microsoft and Turbolinux accelerate collaboration

Microsoft has this week taken steps to further its relationship with open source distributor Turbolinux, under a new agreement attempting to foster ease of use between mixed Windows and Linux based devices.

A key component of the agreement is the development of a collaborative "single sign-on" product, which is designed to eliminate the need for users to have different sets of credentials to log onto Windows-based and Linux platforms.

Included in the agreement is the proposal to build an R&D interoperability lab in Microsoft's Beijing office.

The aim of the agreement is "to reduce the cost and complexity of running mixed Windows and Linux IT environments," said Yano Koichi, CEO of Turbolinux, in a statement.

The companies claim that this is the first agreement of its kind between Microsoft and a Linux distributor in Asia.