“Open source is the future of computing in much of the Asia-Pacific region, and Linux is emerging as the de facto standards-based operating platform,” said Rhonda O'Donnell, president, Novell Asia-Pacific, as Novell announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the 50% stake held by its partner in Onward Novell, its sales and distribution arm in India.

Onward Novell was a 50/50 joint venture with a local Indian partner that dates back to 1992. Novell will now integrate the Onward Novell organization with the company's existing India operations, increasing Novell's investment in the region and O'Donnell will assume responsibility for the operations, with support from a local senior management team.

Onward Novell Managing Director Harish Mehta will continue to advise the wholly owned Novell operation.

“By increasing our investment in India, we are well positioned to help drive Linux and open-source adoption not just in India, but in other emerging Asian markets as well,” O'Donnell (pictured) said.

"I am extremely proud of what we have achieved during this period. We were able to establish Novell as a pioneer in the networking field in India. Combining Novell's product reliability with customer focus, we have been able to build deep and long-standing relationships with the Indian customer community," added Mehta.

"In India, Linux and open source are increasingly permeating applications such as mail messaging, file & print, and web hosting. Identity and access management solutions are also getting increased traction in the IT services and BPO sector in India due to privacy and compliance issues," said Praveen Sengar, analyst, Software and Services Research, IDC India. "Hence, 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 and access management solutions more effectively."

Novell expects to close the transaction by the end of its fiscal year.