[1943] in comp.os.os2.announce archive
Ever Onward OS/2 Campaign - Second Phase
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (warp@innoval.com)
Mon Oct 7 06:47:14 1996
To: os2ann.DISCUSS@bloom-picayune.MIT.EDU
Date: 4 Oct 1996 13:21:21 GMT
From: warp@innoval.com
Reply-To: warp@innoval.com
Reply-to: warp@innoval.com
Source: Dan Porter, InnoVal Systems Solutions, Inc.
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INTERNET RELEASE
Web: http://www.aescon.com/innoval/everos2
Email: warp@innoval.com
Harrison, NY - October 3, 1996 - InnoVal announces second phase of Ever
Onward OS/2 Campaign called ENTERPRISE 3001. Writing to OS/2 users, Dan Porter,
President of InnoVal Systems wrote:
"I think that we, as consumers and as users of OS/2, need to face reality
and move forward from there.
Fact 1. There will be no push by IBM to sell OS/2 or OS/2 products in the
retail channels. There have been initiatives to do that on the part of IBM
and other failed ventures in the past. IBM is not about to try again. It
would cost millions to do so and the chances of success are not all that
good.
Fact 2. There will be very little, if any, consumer-level advertising for
OS/2. It just won't happen.
"Many would argue that IBM didn't go about it in the right way before and that
it could have succeeded had it been done correctly. Perhaps. I just don't know.
That isn't the point, though. The point is that it won't happen now. I have had
several conversations with IBM executives recently. These conversations were as
recent as the Warp 4 Launch Event in San Francisco on September 25th. I say we
should accept these facts about IBM's marketing strategy and move on.
Fact 3. IBM is not abandoning OS/2. Nor is OS/2 dead. Nor is Warp 4 the last
hurrah for OS/2. None of these possibilities were ever seriously considered
to be realistic or reasonable options.
Fact 4. IBM intends to aggressively market OS/2 to the "top" 3,000 large
networked enterprises who are using OS/2 or are "qualified" prospects for
OS/2.
"I contend that there are 3,001 large networked enterprises. We, collectively,
individual and small business consumers of OS/2, are that additional
enterprise. IBM doesn't see it that way and unfortunately we haven't seen it
that way either. But that could change. We are "Large Networked Enterprise
3001" if we want to be.
"A few months ago we, InnoVal Systems Solutions and a significant number of
supporters, launched the Ever Onward OS/2 campaign in response to the Tibbetts
and Bernstein article that appeared in Information Week. As a result of that
campaign we collected nearly 2,800 letters in support of OS/2. These were all
sent to executives at IBM. Were they read? I think that many of them were
based on conversations that I had with management at IBM. I also think that
they had some positive effect.
"I would like to see us move into the next phase of this campaign. For that I
need your ideas. Every reasonable letter that we get will be collected into a
book, or several books, and presented to IBM executives. We'll sit down face to
face with IBM management and present your case. What is it that we want to see
IBM do for us, its largest OS/2 customer? Isn't it about time that Lotus
delivered on a full office suite for OS/2? Is that important to us? Is it
important that IBM sustain and even bolster support for its native OS/2 and
Java ISV's so that we get the software that we need? Tell us what you think.
Fact 5. Microsoft is not the issue, regardless of what you think about Bill
Gates or Microsoft. I don't like their monopolistic practices any more than
the next guy. Sure, I'd like to see them knocked down a peg or two. But the
real issue for me is OS/2, my operating system of choice. I, with you, am an
IBM customer.
Fact 6. IBM is not betraying OS/2 when it releases products for Windows NT
and Windows 95. IBM knows full well that it must serve its customers needs as
completely as possible. Large account have multiple platforms. Being a
multi-platform provider actually increases IBM's chances of making OS/2 a
success.
"It is time for "Enterprise 3001" to move forward and press its case with its
supplier - IBM. If you want to be a part of this initiative please let us
know.. What we need most is your ideas and your endorsement. Tell us why OS/2
is the ideal platform for you and others who are consumers. Tell us what your
priorities are. We'll carry the story forward. We'll issue press releases. And
we will keep you informed.
"Here is how you can help:
1. Send a letter with ideas or your endorsement for OS/2. We are particularly
interested if there is anything that you can do to help. Send your input
to warp@innoval.com. If we are to use a letter that you write, we request
that you sign your name. If you want us to withhold your name, we can do
so if you request it.
2. Spread the word through the Internet, on CompuServe and other networks.
3. And please participate in our weekly straw poll survey at
http://www.aescon.com/innoval/everos2.
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A related article appears in the current issue of OS/2 e-Zine
http://www.haligonian.com/os2/v1n12
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