JC takes over GNU/Linux Summit from SOT

Junior Chamber takes over GNU/Linux Summit from SOT

Autotalo, Helsinki, Finland, 2004-1-20

SOT Finnish Software Engineering Ltd. has stepped down as organizer of 
the annual GNU/Linux Summit and transferred the event to the Junior 
Chamber organization, citing the need for an independent organizer.
In future Summits, SOT's role in will be limited to sponsorship and 
assisting with the selection of speakers.  Junior Chamber plans to 
bring the traditionally north European GNU/Linux Summit to other 
continents around the world with the help of its active international 
network.

"We wanted the Summit to have an independent organizer, one that will
serve all actors in the industry equally, and ensure that the Summit
remains an event of substance.  For the future success of the Summit, we
would prefer that sales speeches are excluded from the program and that
the Summit remains focused on essential matters, such as how to gain
concrete financial and technological benefits from open software and
GNU/Linux", said Santeri Kannisto, Managing Director, SOT.

Junior Chamber is recognized as a world leader in skill development.
Its members consist of the entrepreneurs and young leaders of today and
tomorrow.  The organization has more than 50 years of experience in
arranging high-level international training.

"The previous Summit reached decision makers and professionals, bringing
them new and up-to-date information about GNU/Linux and Open Source.  In
addition, our involvement in the Summit earned us JCI Europe's prestigious
'Best Local Project Award'.  Next year we are aiming to see the GNU/Linux
Summit win at an international level in Fukoka, Japan", explained Jyrki
Lihr, Junior Chamber's Vice President.

Well-known international ICT professionals have already signed up to speak
at the next GNU/Linux Summit.  This year, the two-day event will take
place in Helsinki instead of Espoo, the site of the previous year's event.
The upcoming Summit is scheduled to be held on Thursday and Friday of the
last week of February: 26-27.2.2004.  For more information, visit
www.linuxsummit.org.


Junior Chamber

JCI (Junior Chamber International) is a worldwide federation of young
leaders and entrepreneurs.  With 200,000 active JCI members and millions
of JCI alumni participating in projects, meetings, learning programs and
events, JCI thrives in more than 6,000 communities located in more than
100 countries throughout the world. Drawing on the experience of JCI 
alumni such as Jari Vilén, Bill Clinton and Kofi Annan, JCI members 
learn the skills to create positive change. JCI organizes projects in 
the areas of Business, Individual, Community, and International 
Development.


SOT

SOT provides services related to product development and
ICT-infrastructure.  Founded in 1991, the company's core competences are
GNU/Linux and Open Source.  As an established software house in the
Finnish ICT arena, SOT counts Finland's leading companies and public
corporations among its customers.  SOT's best known products include SOT
Linux, Best Linux and SOT Office.


For more information

GNU/Linux Summit: http://www.linuxsummit.org/
JCI: http://www.jci.cc/
Junior Chamber Finland: http://www.jcfin.fi/
SOT: http://www.sot.com/
SOT press photography: http://www.sot.com/en/photography.shtml


SOT Media relations
telephone: +358 20 155 2206
fax: +358 20 155 2209
E-mail: PRelations@sot.com