Europe-based computer maker NEC Computers is teaming up with Paris-based Linux vendor Mandriva to develop and sell a line of server, desktop and laptop computers than run Mandriva Linux for the business, home and education markets in Europe.

In an announcement Thursday, Mandriva said the two companies will work to integrate and certify their products in multiple hardware configurations. Mandriva was formerly known as Mandrakesoft SA.

Kadjo N"Doua, communications manager at Mandriva, said the machines are expected to be on sale sometime in the next year in France and other parts of Europe. There are no plans for now to sell the NEC/Mandriva machines in North America, but that could change, he said.

The companies aim to sell the machines to small and large businesses, as well as students and home users. "We"ve been convinced that there"s a market for this for many years now," N"Doud said.

Mandriva has similar deals with Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dell Inc. to offer its operating system on HP and Dell hardware.

"Thanks to this partnership, Mandriva"s customers will have access to a larger range of certified hardware for their infrastructure," Mandriva CEO Francois Bancilhon said in a statement. "Certification is key for broadened customer adoption, as it brings further assurance on the quality of products."

Jean-Claude Tagger, a senior vice president of sales for Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America at NEC Computers, said in a statement that the deal helps NEC broaden its support of available operating systems for users.

"Our customers are used to benefitting from turnkey tailor-made solutions with us," Tagger said. "Mandriva Linux is a reference product in today"s open-source market, and we are confident in the competitiveness of our combined solutions."