Novell claims that US$100 million in business through its Microsoft deal

I am not sure if this is PR stuff or real news. Microsoft is giving out vouchers to its customer for Novell Linux.

Novell's Linux business has soared 243 percent since last November when the company signed its controversial deal with Microsoft. Steinman said part of its growth was directly related to the Microsoft deal, adding that Novell has billed more than US$100 million in business through its Microsoft relationship. He added that the growth was also due to the halo effect of the arrangement. When we're out there competing with Red Hat, [our salespeople] are saying, 'Our Linux is recommended by Microsoft,' and customers that already have a Windows investment say it seems to make sense to pick the Linux that works with Windows."

I am wondering why Microsoft is helping out Linux?

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