06.02.07
How Much Money Does Microsoft Make Out of Linux
Microsoft gets a portion of the money earned through GNU/Linux sales. In general, this is not news. Neither are the extortions. But have a look at this:
Playing with the numbers, SUSE sales without Microsoft had an invoice total of $11 million compared to the $29 million figure reported. The remainder of that sum is Microsoft.
To its credit, Novell has tried to diversify a bit by sealing SUSE Linux deals with SAP and Dell. Novell executives didn’t provide details on those two deals. But it’s unrealistic to think that either SAP or Dell can deliver the big numbers Microsoft can.
As a result, Microsoft is essentially SUSE Linux’s biggest reseller.
That’s one helluva blind spot considering the GPLv3 risk that Novell laid out in its annual report. Perhaps, that’s why 38 percent of the Microsoft deal’s value is completed already. With the GPL final looming Novell could be on the clock. Microsoft may also be on the clock as it rushes to sell SUSE Linux certificates before the new GPL.
As we mentioned before, this explains why Microsoft is in a great hurry trying to get these coupons done with.
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.
Shane Coyle said,
June 2, 2007 at 8:18 am
They’re getting unspecified royalties from Novell for their customers’ right-to-use SUSE, OOO and ???, Plus, all the rumored money they’ve been making selling Linux right-to-use licenses to the varied corporations.
I have wondered if there is any overlap between MS’ Linux license customers and their Novell SUSE coupon customers.