Microsoft hiring Linux developers????

Want to be part of MapPoint product group? [Hint: We're hiring!] Scobleizer has a post about how Microsoft is hiring Linux developers for one of their projects and he refers to Chandu Thota's weblog as evidence of a Linux developer who has been working for microsoft for the past year. He even gives his Top 10 Mappoint Moments of the Year 2004.

All of this follows ontop of Sun's decision to move away from Linux and cut a significant part of their Linux developers. I wonder how much of Sun's decision is based on their agreement last year with Microsoft. Something to think about for a moment or two today.