Microsoft will release a version of Office to run on Linux within the "next couple of years", according to the chief executive of the Open Source Development Lab (OSDL). 

"They did it once with Apple; they will do it again with Linux," Stuart Cohen said during an interview with vnunet.com at the LinuxWorld conference in San Francicso.

OSDL aims to advance Linux and open source. The consortium employs Linux founder Linus Torvalds, and is funded by IT vendors including IBM, HP and Intel.

Cohen argued that Microsoft will be compelled to create a Linux version in a move to pre-empt the further rise of Sun Microsystems' open source OpenOffice productivity suite.

"Microsoft will fight the total cost of ownership [issue] with a very inexpensive office solution," he said. "I do not think that they will open source Office, but they will make it available to run on Linux desktops."

Cohen compared the expected Linux Microsoft Office version to Oracle's Database 10g Express Edition application launched in November.

The software offers a free entry-level database in an effort to fight off competition from open source competitors. 

Cohen claimed that Microsoft is starting to soften its stance against open source. "They are trying to cooperate," said Cohen. "They have now acknowledged that Linux is here to stay."

The change is attitude is limited to Microsoft as a company, he stressed, maintaining that Windows and Linux will remain fierce competitors.