Friday, August 26 2005 18:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Novell, leading provider of infrastructure software and services, plans to leverage its Bangalore based development centre for promoting existing products and development of future products.

The centre so far had been used to build certain critical components for Novell products, J Veeraaghavan Managing Director, Novell, told reporters in Bangalore today (Aug 26, 2005).

But now the efforts would be more on how to promote its various products, including e-director, open source and open office, he said.

Novell was also keen on customising some of its global products for the Indian market.

"We view the Indian market as a huge growth market and the need of the hour is to develop solutions and support system for this local market", he said.

Speaking about the Novell Inc's definitive agreement to acquire 50 per cent stake held by its partner in Onward Novell, its sales and distribution arm in India, Rhonda O'Donnell President, Novell Asia Pacific, said the move reflects Novell's strong commitment to bringing its Linux and identity solutions to serve its Indian customers, while simultaneously enhancing its existing development and technical support operations in the region.

"In India, Linux and open source are increasingly permeating applications. Novell's decision to take direct control of its business in India should enable it to have more focus on the Indian market and to deliver Linux and identity access management solutions more effectively, Rhonda said.