Bangalore: Hewlett-Packard India Software Operations has announced its platinum sponsorship of Linux Bangalore/2003, a three-day conference aimed at Linux developer community. This event is scheduled to be held from 2-4 December 2003 at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.

The event aims to cover a large number of areas focusing on Linux Kernel and systems software, as well as more generic Open Source software, the underlying software technologies, and the free software and Open source philosophy. The conference targets both developers as well as users of Open Source products and technologies, from the entry to the advanced levels.

The event also seems to host a clash of the Linux desktops — Gnome and KDE, with both sending speakers and representatives. "We acknowledge the power of Linux and its role in today''s IT environment. This sponsorship is a reinforcement of HP''s Linux commitment and saying ''Thank you'' to the open source community," says Subramanya Mudigere, vice-president, R&D, HP ISO.