Fujitsu and Red Hat Form Joint Development Organization for Linux

Tokyo, December 18, 2003 --Fujitsu Limited and Red Hat today announced that, as a part of their global partnership in providing Linux-based solutions, engineers from the two companies have started to work together located on-site at a Red Hat office in Boston, Massachusetts (USA). The new organization will develop Linux features focusing on enterprise customer needs and will assert Fujitsu's support operations in Japan and worldwide as well.

The Joint Development Organization is designed to serve as a base for the two companies to work together to enhance the functionality of the Linux operating system and to ensure the enhanced support network for Linux. The activities will therefore enable the companies to provide a focal point for collaboration to incorporate new and more robust functions into Linux to meet the application needs of their customers while at the same time, to provide more comprehensive support for their customers around the world.

Since the start of their global alliance in May, Fujitsu and Red Hat have joined forces on all aspects of mission-critical Linux solutions, including software development, marketing, sales, system configuration, and support. In addition to offering Red Hat Enterprise Linux solutions for the Fujitsu PRIMERGY Intel Architecture server, the two companies have actively partnered to develop and promote Linux solutions. Forming the Joint Development Organization demonstrates the companies' commitment to work together to further expand their Linux offerings.

Fujitsu is building a global support network to cover its major locations around the world. By providing the same uncompromising level of Linux setup service and runtime assistance worldwide that it does in Japan on a global basis, Fujitsu will better be able to ensure integrated, ongoing lifecycle support that covers system design, setup, installation and operation. Moreover, Fujitsu Siemens Computers in Europe has expanded its single-source support network for Red Hat Enterprise Linux products and will offer Red Hat solutions to its customers beginning today.

Fujitsu and Red Hat will of course share the results of their work with the Linux community in the interest of helping make Linux more reliable, capable, and powerful, as well bringing the system into wider use.

Akira Yamanaka, Group President of the Server Systems Group at Fujitsu, commented, "With a range of applications that covers everything from Internet servers to mission-critical application servers and database servers, the scope of Linux applications is growing very quickly. In accordance with this trend, Fujitsu is augmenting its international support network. Building on our global alliance with Red Hat announced in May, we are forming this Joint Development Organization, through which the two companies can share technology and know-how, in order to provide comprehensive support and give our customers additional confidence in choosing Linux solutions."

Alex Pinchev, Executive vice president of Worldwide Sales at Red Hat commented, "Fujitsu is a leader in server technology, not just in Japan but around the world. Establishing a Joint Development Organization with Fujitsu will increase the efficiency of our development work, and the establishment of an extensive back-end support network will benefit customers worldwide."

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About Fujitsu
Fujitsu is a leading provider of customer-focused IT and communications solutions for the global marketplace. Pace-setting technologies, highly reliable computing and telecommunications platforms, and a worldwide corps of systems and services experts uniquely position Fujitsu to deliver comprehensive solutions that open up infinite possibilities for its customers' success. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.6 trillion yen (US$38 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003. For more information, please see : http://www.fujitsu.com/.

About Red Hat
Red Hat is the world's premier open source and Linux provider. Red Hat is headquartered in Raleigh, N.C. and has offices worldwide. For more information visit www.redhat.com.

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