IBM is to enhance its Workplace software portfolio by adding Linux software and support. Cost? $100m and will take 3 years.

Linux investment will centre on supporting software suppliers and channel partners, research and development, sales and marketing, technology and integration centres.

"Since customers have been looking for ways to extend the value of Linux to the desktop, IBM felt the time was right to deliver a fully supported Linux client alternative," said Ambuj Goyal, IBM general manager of Workplace, portal and collaboration software.

The move comes on the same day that Sun Microsystems has released betas of the latest versions of StarOffice and Desktop Java.

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