In partnership with Canonical and Virtual Bridges, IBM has introduced its ‘Microsoft-free’ systems – called the Open Collaboration Client - which combines the Linux operating system with IBM’s open source Lotus Symphony desktop package. It includes word processing, presentation, and spreadsheet applications based on the Open Document Format.

Shunning Microsoft’s omnipresent desktop environment in favor of a combination of open source software, the line of business computers thereby tout the benefits of open standards over a proprietary platform.

According to the company claims, Open Collaboration Client can save businesses $500 to $800 per user on Microsoft software licenses, along with up to $258 per user on hardware and bring additional savings “since there is no need to upgrade hardware to support Windows Vista and Office.” The system is designed to run in a virtual configuration, with the software stored both locally and on remote servers.

By offering virtual systems based on the Open Collaboration Client through its Global Services outsourcing and system integration unit, IBM has pushed into non-Windows computing, which is the latest challenge for Microsoft’s core operating system franchise.

The company said in a statement on Thursday: “Today’s news builds on announcements through 2008 around delivering Microsoft alternatives in conjunction with our partners. For this virtual system, all administrative intervention is done on consolidated virtual machines in the data center through deployment of standard images.”