Novell appoints                                                                  Arkateq -                                                                2004/08/18 Arkateq has been appointed a Novell business partner. This comes a few months after Arkateq was appointed a SuSE Linux Business Partner by SuSE Germany and just before Novell announced its purchase of SuSE. The appointment as a Business Partner will further strengthen Arkateq's current Open Source drive, as Novell is committed to supporting Open Source. "It seems as if we made the right choice going with SUSE as our Linux distribution of choice, seeing as Novell also come to the same conclusion as we did."_ Explains Andre Coetzee, Operations Director at Arkateq. "Linux now has a world wide support partner in Novell and that can only spell good things for Open Source. Novell has built a name for itself as a cross platform solutions based company with vision. Arkateq is also committed to these ideals. Our customers now further have the assurance that they are dealing with an approved Novell Partner, who not only has the skills and knowledge needed, but also the commitment to provide innovative and affordable solutions," adds Coetzee. Novell, who recently announced that it has bought SUSE Linux, had previously purchased Ximian the creators of the Evolution mail client. Novell's own range of products, services, support and development solutions makes it a formidable force in the ever changing IT arena. "The reason we decided on Novell was twofold. Firstly, we have a lot of SUSE Linux experience at Arkateq and Novell wisely chose SuSE Linux above all others. Secondly, we like the direction Novell is moving in. It is about time the Open Source movement gained some credible clout Internationally. Novell has done just that." states Thomas Muller, MD of Arkateq. "The Novell stable is packed with award winners, successful business cases and satisfied customers, so it seems with Novell and SuSE Linux we are backing two winners"_ continues Muller. Arkateq is involved in many SMMEs, the CSIR as well as the Department of Defence. Arkateq has now expanded its offerings to the corporate arena with Novell solutions.