IBM Corporation, the world's largest infotech company, is hardselling open source software (read Linux) in India.

According to senior government officials, Samuel J Palmisano, chairman, IBM Corporation, who is on a three-day visit to India, has raised the pitch for open source software, particularly in government departments, during his meeting with the Information Technology, Communications and Divestment Minister, Arun Shourie, on Tuesday in Delhi.

The company also wants to use its development centres in India to undertake key technology development work for its global requirements.

Government sources said Palmisano's hardsell of Linux was based on the advantages that the use of Linux can generate, especially cost savings compared with proprietary software such as Microsoft technologies.

It is also learnt that he argued in favor of Linux saying that that its use can lead to higher employment generation as new software applications need to be developed on the Linux platform.

Scott McNealy, chief executive of Sun Microsystems, during his visit to India in March had also made a sales pitch for Linux.

"He elucidated the benefits of using Linux interms of cost and other. IBM as a company is very upbeat about India," Shourie said after the meeting.

Palmisano's other engagements in Delhi included meetings with President A P J Abdul Kalam, employees of the company's research lab in Delhi and other key partners.

Palmisano also explored the possibility of the government and IBM corporation in the areas of research and development and how the company can expand the scope of its associations with various Indian research institutes and universities.

"The company wants India to play a major role in its future technology development. IBM wants to develop futuristic technologies, both software and hardware, out of its facilities in India," Shourie said.

"Palmisano discussion with employees, customers and the government the importance of Linux and how it fits in with e-business on demand and the future of the it industry," a senior IBM executive said.

Palmisano began his three-day Indian in Bangalore and met Karnataka chief minister S M Krishna. He also met top executives of IT companies, customers and employees in Bangalore.

Palmisano's visit, described as a 'learning trip' by IBM, is the first ever visit by any IBM chairmen to India. "He wants to learn about the market and the potential this market has for the company. He is on a learning trip this time," a company executive said.

IBM has made substantial investments in the country in its hardware manufacturing facility in Pondicherry, software services business, research and development and Linux development.

The company's investments in software development was in the areas of operating systems, networking protocol products, high-end graphics and multimedia, data base and compilers and high end applications.