Novell Not for Sale; IBM Mum on Apple Buy

LAS VEGAS--In a brief aside to attendees at this morning's keynote address, Novell chair and CEO Robert Frankenberg flatly denied that the company is on the verge of being acquired by IBM.

In other related industry acquisition news, officials from Apple and Hewlett-Packard yesterday refused to comment on press reports that the companies are in acquisition discussions. A story earlier this week in computer trade weekly InfoWorld said that both Hewlett-Packard and IBM are pursuing Apple. Unlike with previous efforts, Apple officials are receptive to the idea, according to InfoWorld.