| Linux Centers USA has opened 12 centers around the country to prepare candidates for Linux+ and Red Hat certification tests by leasing classroom space in Lanop certification centers. There are separate programs for computer professionals and career changers.
According to Rita Mosley, president of Lanop, “IBM Chairman Lou Gerstner has announced that his company is investing $1 Billion as part of a bet that the open-source operating system, which is growing at twice the rate of Microsoft’s Widows NT, could overtake Microsoft’s Windows NT in 2004. Linux Centers USA and Lanop are making that same bet.”
Microsoft President and CEO Steve Ballmer admitted that Linux is threatening Microsoft’s stronghold on the industry and Linux Centers USA believes the need for Linux professionals — which already far exceeds supply —to soar in the next few months.
Linux is the Unix clone considered faster and more powerful than any of the Windows operating systems — and it can be downloaded from the internet free — with permission to install it on an unlimited number of computers with no fee or royalties. Perhaps most important is that the source code is also available so it can be fully customized — and ‘bugs’ fixed by the user.
Linux USA programs will offer a first-time-pass guarantee for all the certification tests. Computer professionals will be offered Linux+ and Red Hat programs. Linux will be bundled with A+ and Net+ certification programs for non-professionals.
For more information about Lanop see: http://www.lanop.com or contact Mosley at (910) 458-0717 or rmosley@isaac.net. | 
