Difference between revisions 325420253 and 325944207 on enwiki

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{{Infobox_OS
| name =                   Impi Linux
| logo =                   
| screenshot =             
| caption =                
| developer =              Impi Linux (Pty) Ltd
(contracted; show full)

Impi Linux's first release, version 1, was released [[1 November]] [[2003]]. A few other companies provided sponsorships in the form of professional media and public relations from MIP Holdings as well as bandwidth and an [[FTP]] mirror from Internet Solutions.{{
FactCitation needed|date=February 2008}}

The first release of Impi Linux was not widely adopted due to many technical faults and an immature installation routine.

In October 2004, following the release of version 2, Andre Coetzee started identifying potential partners and investors and engaged with a recently listed technology company then called Xantium. Xantium and Andre Coetzee signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SITA to undertake a proof of concept (POC) project. The POC was successful and eventually culminated in SITA issuing a tender, [[Request For Bid|RFB]] 428.{{FactCitation needed|date=February 2007}} Xantium offered to buy Impi for [[South African rand|R]]450,000, which was ultimately rejected. However Gary Fortuin (who serves as the current managing director) moved from Xantium to Impi Linux.{{FactCitation needed|date=February 2008}}

Following the POC at SITA, Impi Linux officially became a company, Impi Linux (PTY) Ltd, in February 2005. This was at SITA's request. SITA were unable to procure from a project, so a company had to be formed. Nick Venter and Howard Lowenthal assisted Andre Coetzee and Gary Fortuin to structure the new company.

In February 2005, the fledgling company setup shop in [[Rosebank]], [[Johannesburg]], at which point Ross Addis joined Impi Linux full time (although on the [[Cubit Accounting]] payroll). 

In May 2005 Impi Linux exhibited at the first South African [[LinuxWorld]] in [[Johannesburg]] with a sponsorship from Arivia.kom, a South African IT para-statal company.

In August 2005, the core of the Impi Linux team (consisting of Gary Fortuin, Francis Viviers and Ross Addis) started discussions with [[Mark Shuttleworth]].{{FactCitation needed|date=February 2008}} In September the deal was concluded when [[Mark Shuttleworth]], through his HBD venture capital company, invested R10 million into Impi Linux in return for 65% of the company. Two [[Canonical Ltd.]] employees in South Africa also joined Impi Linux.

In August 2005, SITA issued the [[Request For Bid]] 428.{{FactCitation needed|date=February 2007}}

Impi Linux, along with eight other companies, won the tender in February 2006.

In May 2006 Impi Linux launched a partnership programme entitled “The Mile High Club” to correlate with the company’s aviation marketing theme. It is intended to give partners better access to Impi Linux's professional services and products as well as benefiting from Impi Linux's relationships with [[CodeWeavers]] and [[Canonical Ltd.]].

In August 2006 Impi Linux begun a  proof of concept come roll-out at the South African Department of Science and Technology, utilizing a customized version of Impi Linux.

==Company shareholding==
Current shareholders of the company are Shuttleworth's HBD Business Holdings (65%), with an additional shareholding from Khuselo Investments (Pty)Ltd (10%). Khuselo Investments jointly represented by Pumla Radebe, Johannesburg City Parks Chairperson and Eddie Funde, current chairman of the SABC. In addition, 20% of the shares in the new entity have been earmarked for BEE, in the form of a trust that will disburse shares to previously disadvantaged employees over time. Other minor shareholders (5%) include, Andre Coetzee, Nick Venter, Howard Lowenthal and Gary Fortuin.{{FactCitation needed|date=February 2008}}

==Release history==
===Impi Linux 1===
Version 1 (released [[1 November]] [[2003]]) Andre Coetzee decided to base it on [[Gnoppix]], the installation script used dialog and was written in [[PHP]] by Francis Viviers who was employed full time by Andre Coetzee to work on Impi Linux.

(contracted; show full)

===Customised releases===
In June 2005, Impi Linux delivered a customized version of the distribution to [[Exclusive Books]], a large South African book retailer for use on the point of sale terminals. Exclusive Books continue to use the distribution in all of their stores across [[South Africa]] and in [[Nigeria]]{{
factCitation needed|date=November 2009}}.

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.impi.org.za/ Impi Linux]
* [http://www.businessday.co.za/Articles/TarkArticle.aspx?ID=1686132 News of Mark Shuttleworth's investment]
* [http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?id=1167 New of the Department of Science and Technology POC]
* [http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1186103&seqNum=2 Official Ubuntu book related Projects]
{{Ubuntu-distro}}
{{Linux-distro}}

[[Category:Ubuntu (operating system) derivatives]]

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