Ubuntu-using small businesses get a helping hand with helpdesk support

Canonical has launched support services for individual and small-business users of the popular Ubuntu Linux distribution.

The company, which sponsors Ubuntu, already sold helpdesk services for enterprise users. However, the new Desktop Support Services, announced on Friday, are largely aimed at "small businesses looking for a cost-effective alternative to Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac", Canonical said in a statement.

Steve George, director of Canonical's corporate services division, said in the statement: "Canonical's Desktop Support Services provides an easy... way to get Ubuntu up and running in the home, home office and small business - reaching the vast majority of computer users."

There are three versions of Desktop Support Services. The Starter version is for basic set-up of Ubuntu, the Advanced version is for more complicated migrations to the open-source operating system, and the Professional version is for making sure the Ubuntu PC is integrated with the user's corporate network and company IT services.

The Professional version also aids the user in setting up desktop virtualisation, and offers its subscribers quicker access to support personnel, Canonical said.

Ubuntu is the most popular distribution of Linux in use, although its precise share of the worldwide operating system market is difficult to gauge. According to Net Applications, Linux as a whole has a 1.05 per cent share of the global OS market, to Windows's 93.04 per cent and Mac OS X's 4.86 per cent.

Microsoft is gearing up to release its next desktop OS, Windows 7, in October, after predecessor Vista arrived to a lukewarm response. In the past couple of years, Linux has made some inroads on netbooks but has lost ground recently to Windows XP, which Microsoft reprieved from killing off.

The Starter version of the Ubuntu desktop support service costs £34.73 per year, the Advanced version costs £72.62 per year, and the Professional version costs £138.03 per year. All versions are cheaper on an annual basis through a three-year package, and all prices are exclusive of VAT.

Original article: Ubuntu gets desktop support for small businesses from ZDNet UK