Whatever happened to UnitedLinux?

Computerworld - UnitedLinux LLC began with much energy and promise in May 2002 (see story), as four Linux vendors joined to create a standardized, certified and robust enterprise-focused version of the open-source operating system.
But things haven't exactly turned out as planned.
The first version of UnitedLinux debuted that November, but the group's Web site hasn't been updated since April 2003. Meanwhile, its four original partners -- SUSE Linux AG, the former Caldera International Inc. (now known as The SCO Group Inc.), Turbolinux Inc. and Conectiva SA -- have undergone a number of changes.
Lindon, Utah-based SCO threw the partnership into a tailspin when it filed its now-infamous lawsuit against IBM in March 2003, alleging that IBM illegally contributed some of SCO's System V Unix code to Linux. Then Tokyo-based Turbolinux underwent ownership changes and largely pulled out of the U.S. market, causing more instability for UnitedLinux. And late last year, Novell Inc. bought SUSE, bringing the Linux company under its wing as part of its future strategy.
Despite those changes, UnitedLinux, which is built atop SUSE Enterprise Linux, is still being sold by all of the partners except for SCO, which ended Linux sales after filing its IBM lawsuit. SCO went on to file other lawsuits against Novell, DaimlerChrysler AG, AutoZone Inc. and others relating to its infringement claims. The bulk of the DaimlerChrysler suit was dismissed last week (see story).
So where does this leave UnitedLinux? It depends on whom you ask.
Mission Accomplished
Jaques Rosenzvaig, CEO of Brazil-based Conectiva, said the original goal of the partnership, to create a standardized enterprise operating system, was achieved. But future work on UnitedLinux may go in new directions.
"The object was to make a product, not an entity," he said. "UnitedLinux was kind of like a vehicle to make this global, certified, unified Linux happen."
UnitedLinux LLC still exists, he said, despite the SCO lawsuits and SUSE's acquisition. "Many lessons were learned and these will form a basis for us moving forward," he said, noting that sales of UnitedLinux continue, as does support and service.

Michael Jennings, director of international business at Turbolinux, said the SCO lawsuits slowed the group's initial push into the marketplace but added that the other three partners are unable to kick SCO out of UnitedLinux. "The industry really liked the idea of UnitedLinux, and things were really starting to take off when unfortunate stuff started to happen," he said. "And so now we're just trying to take a wait-and-see approach. You'll see things starting to occur again