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During an Oct. 26 phone briefing today, Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth described the Ubuntu 9.10 desktop, server and cloud strategy to members of the IT media. WorksWithU tuned in and posed some key questions to Shuttleworth. Here are 10 highlights from the call.

Microsoft has invited open source applications provides to run on Windows Azure, Microsoft's forthcoming Windows cloud platform. And some opens source specialists -- including SplendidCRM -- are accepting the invite.

As Canonical delivers the first Ubuntu 9.10 release candidate to users, ZaReason is preparing to offer Ubuntu 9.10 on desktops, notebooks, netbooks -- and a new server. ZaReason CEO Cathy Malmrose and CTO Earl Malmrose describe their strategy to WorksWithU.

Sure, IBM partnered up with Canonical this week to promote Ubuntu Linux and open source desktops against Windows 7. But Big Blue’s other big open source move — a growing relationship with Digium — has caught The VAR Guy’s attention. Here’s why. Fact is, desktops no longer sit at the center of the IT universe. VARs are looking for higher margin recurring revenue opportunities — many of which involve network-enabled applications. That’s where the IBM-Digium relationship enters the picture. Digium promotes Asterisk, the open source IP PBX that is turning heads in many IT departments.

Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth on Oct. 26 is set to speak with the press about Ubuntu 9.10 Desktop Edition and Server Edition. WorksWithU will be extra careful not to “hype” Ubuntu 9.10 over the next few days. Instead, we hope to ask Shuttleworth some timely questions about the new Ubuntu and Canonical’s long-term business strategy. Here’s a sampling of issues on our mind. Admittedly, we’re long-term believers in Ubuntu. Otherwise why would we have launched WorksWithU? But that doesn’t mean Canonical and Ubuntu 9.10 are guaranteed to succeed.

As major PC makers prepare to introduce Windows 7 systems on Oct. 22, upstarts like System76 are maintaining their focus on the Ubuntu market and preparing to preload Ubuntu 9.10 on a range of PCs starting Oct. 29. Here’s a preview of what’s to come.

Two prominent open source applications providers — Open-Xchange and SugarCRM — are partnering to integrate their collaboration and customer relationship management software. The move comes as Open-Xchange recruits SaaS partners and on-premise channel partners to battle Microsoft Exchange. Here’s the scoop.

During the Oracle OpenWorld conference (Oct. 11-15, San Francisco), speculation mounted that Oracle was preparing an Unbreakable Linux offering that features the MySQL database — and targets Microsoft’s Windows Server-SQL Server combo. Here’s the scoop.

Cisco is keeping close tabs on the Asterisk open source IP PBX market. On the upside, Cisco spent time at Astricon promoting VoIP phones and other systems that link into Asterisk. But over time, Cisco will need to closely evaluate its Asterisk strategy. Here's why.

Digium CEO Danny Windham has a message for networking VARs seeking a new opportunity in the IT channel: Digium -- the provider of Asterisk, the open source IP PBX -- is profitable, growing and seeking talented solutions providers. Here are more thoughts.

At the Astricon conference in Arizona, Digium announced the AsteriskExchange application store, an overhauled Asterisk.org community site and AsteriskForge for software developers. The three moves potentially solidify Asterisk and Digium as a disruptive force in the IP PBX market. Digium Founder and CTO Mark Spencer explains the strategy in this quick video.

Compiere, a small open source ERP software provider, is on track to grow its business 50 percent this year, driving 80 percent of company revenues through the channel. Next up, the company plans to accelerate its SaaS and on-premise relationships in 2010. Here’s the scoop.

Asterisk, the open source IP PBX, is turning 10 years old. And Digium, the fast-growing provider of commercial Asterisk solutions, is hosting the Astricon conference this week. All sounds well. But The VAR Guy will raise seven key questions when he speaks with Digium officials later today. Here they are.

Dell’s U.S. website has finally made good on a promise to re-introduce an Ubuntu desktop PC. The move should silence critics who were worried that Dell wasn’t committed to the growing Ubuntu desktop and mobile markets.

There have been promises of an overhaul to Ubuntu’s default theme for quite some time. Ubuntu 9.10, set to be released at the end of this month, will begin delivering on those promises. Below, we take a look at the new system theme and artwork that will debut in Karmic Koala. Here it is.

Hate is a strong word … especially when you’re in love. Consider the situation between Red Hat and Microsoft. During the Red Hat Summit in September, the open source company warned customers and channel partners not to get locked into Microsoft’s Windows Azure cloud strategy. Fast forward to the present, and Red Hat and Microsoft are locked in a virtual hug. Here’s the scoop.

When the Astricon conference kicks off Oct. 13 in Glendale, Ariz., I will be checking to see if Asterisk (the open source IP PBX) is ready for mainstream partners and solutions providers. Actually, I think I already know the answer to that question. Here’s why.

Given the popularity of Gmail, it’s not surprising that a score of desktop applets have emerged for notifying users of new messages. I recently set out on a quest to find the best one. Here are the results.

Consider the following scenario: mindSHIFT, a Microsoft Gold Partner, is pretty excited about Windows 7’s scheduled Oct. 22 launch. Yet mindSHIFT also is launching a cloud service that blends hosted Windows desktops with open source applications like OpenOffice. This is the start of a bigger trend. Here's why.

A UK-based systems integrator, has completed its first ever Skype for Asterisk enterprise deployment. Is this the start of a larger trend involving Asterisk and open source IP PBXes? You’re about to find out.