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by Alan Soon, Computerworld Hong Kong

(IDG) -- Open source software vendor Red Hat in January will introduce a simplified Chinese version of its Linux operating system.

Mark White, Red Hat’s recently-named general manager of Asia-Pacific operations, said on Friday that the vendor will unveil the localized OS at next month’s LinuxWorld 2000 Conference in Hong Kong.

White, formerly Compaq Asia-Pacific’s director of Unix marketing, said that while work on the localized product will be carried out primarily by Red Hat itself, the company is also looking for partners. “We’re in the process of discussing with other companies in China and Hong Kong about contributing to that development,” he said.

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A traditional Chinese version is expected to follow “as soon as possible.” Red Hat already provides support for other languages, including Italian, French, German and Japanese.

According to White, the Mainland represents a huge potential market for Red Hat because of the high level of Unix literacy.

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“Specifically in China, there’s a strong set of Unix skills. A lot of those skills are transferable [to Linux]. There’s a tremendous number of Linux users already in China, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.

In line with its plans to enter the Asian market, Red Hat will soon open an office in Hong Kong to handle business development, channel management and training. “We intend to use Hong Kong as a base for the Greater China region,” he said, adding that he is in the process of recruiting for the site here.

Red Hat has yet to decide on the location of an Asia-Pacific headquarters. The company currently maintains offices in Singapore and Australia; White is based in the Australian office.

White declined to comment on rumors of a possible acquisition of BeOS by Red Hat.