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The Korea Times reported that a deal between two of the world's biggest memory companies, Hynix and Micron, is expected to be signed in January.

A memorandum of understanding is in preparation and an announcement may come as soon as the end of this week, the paper said.

But the deal is unlikely to involve any large amounts of cash, and would involve a share swap which the Times said would be around 20 per cent.

That was a stumbling block for Micron before, but perhaps the US Dramurai has decided that a strategic alliance would be the best way to proceed.

The two companies have been engaged in visits to each others fabs and facilities over the last week. It's possible that the reports are over optimistic - Micron is known to have a very different view on what it wants out of any alliance compared to debt-ridden Hynix

News source: The Inquirer - Hynix-Micron deal could happen this week

Zen on the .NET

Microsoft's .NET, according to DiDio, promises a series of Web-based services that will allow people to download their applications from the Web and use them from within a single application. Instead of being tied to a single desktop, users will be able to access their data, programs, and online identity from a PC, a PDA -- even from a wireless phone.

Deployment of .NET isn't expected for another 12 to 24 months, and when it does become available businesses will need to upgrade their hardware and software in order to use it.

But in February, Novell is launching a competing suite of networking software that promises to offer similar flexibility, called ZENworks Up -- and it will not require buying new hardware, sticking to a single platform, or adopting a certain suite of applications. Businesses can even run Windows and Microsoft Office from it if they so choose.

In DiDio's words, ZENworks is "dot-NET now."

Cake for All

Kelly Wagman, one of the two product managers for ZENworks, told NewsFactor that ZENworks gives businesses the tools to be agile without having to rip out and replace their networks -- a prohibitive expense for most businesses.

"The answer to a heterogeneous environment is not to make things homogenous," Wagman told NewsFactor. "The idea is for businesses to get to their vision of what they'll have tomorrow without changing today."

Brad Christensen, another ZENworks product manager, told NewsFactor that companies should be able to use their investments in people, technology and hardware and not be forced to start anew in order to realize the benefits of Novell's offering.

"Our competitor's message is 'Let them eat cake,' and that's off the mark because there's nothing to eat," Christensen said. "Their version happens to be 'Let them rip and replace,' which is not empathetic to the situations [businesses] are in."

What About Marketing?

DiDio said that ZENworks Up "has so much functionality in it that it's incredible. But you know the old saying: Great marketing always wins over great technology," and Microsoft is one of the great marketers of the high-tech era.

"But Novell is entering a space that no one really owns, and it has a chance to win," DiDio said. "The problem they face is, is it too late no matter what they do to be taken seriously?"

Despite DiDio's reservations about Novell's ability to market ZENworks Up, both Christensen and Wagman expressed optimism about its success.

Biting Microsoft's Ankles

"You attack" in order to succeed, Wagman said. "You bite [Microsoft's] ankles and market like hell."

Wagman added that Microsoft's evangelism for .NET is actually a great thing for Novell.

After Microsoft does its proselytizing, said Wagman, "We walk in and say, 'Isn't that a great story? And we can offer it to you today.' "