Microsoft Corp. and Japanese electronics maker Fujitsu Ltd. will collaborate to develop servers for the next-generation Windows operating system, the companies said Monday.

Quick to disassociate itself from any kind of exclusive "dark-union" with Microsoft, Fujitsu has been careful to point out that it will be offering servers that run older MS operating systems, and of course Linux.

Mind you, there's no escaping the notion that Fujitsu has seen something special in Longhorn:

The two companies are targeting 800 billion yen ($7.2 billion) in sales from the development of servers with Longhorn, along with other business agreements.

More here.