[3215] in comp.os.os2.announce archive
MISC: OS/2 Warp FM Information Flash #31
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Timothy Sipples)
Mon Jul 28 07:37:18 1997
To: os2ann.DISCUSS@bloom-picayune.MIT.EDU
Date: 24 Jul 1997 08:01:00 -0400
From: tsipple@us.ibm.com (Timothy Sipples)
Reply-To: tsipple@us.ibm.com (Timothy Sipples)
Reply-to: tsipple@us.ibm.com (Timothy Sipples)
[Followups directed to comp.os.os2.misc]
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VOLUME 2 - OS/2 WARP FM InfoFlash - FLASH 31
http://www.software.ibm.com/os/warp/warpfm
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IBM Offers New Upgrade Services for OS/2 Customers
Announces Formation of Rapid Deployment Team
AUSTIN, July 15, 1997...IBM today announced the availability of a new services
offering aimed at helping existing OS/2* customers upgrade to the latest
versions of OS/2 Warp. Upgrading to OS/2 Warp 4 and OS/2 Warp Server gives
customers the feature set they need to exploit the benefits of network
computing.
The Rapid Deployment Team (RDT), a group of highly skilled OS/2 lab engineers,
will work together with IBM Global Services professionals and selected BESTeam
members to provide OS/2 customers around the world with the specialized talent
and skills they need to make the upgrade process a smooth one. The RDT offers
customized services in the areas of planning, application development,
integration, testing, piloting and deployment. Using the services of the team
saves customers time and money during the upgrade process.
"Upgrading to the latest versions of OS/2 Warp is the first step towards
network computing," said Mike Lawrie, general manager, IBM Personal Software
Products (PSP) division. "The Rapid Deployment Team, working as an extension
of IBM Global Services and partnering with IBM BESTeam members, will provide
customers with a level of OS/2 Warp expertise unmatched anywhere else in the
industry."
IBM is encouraging users to migrate to the latest versions of OS/2 Warp, which
are equipped for network computing, for a number of reasons. The current
versions of OS/2 Warp:
*Offer network computing features like support for Netscape Navigator**,
Java** 1.1, URLs and FTP servers represented as icons and folders on the
desktop, a Lotus Notes mail client and the latest version of TCP/IP. Not only
do customers have access to the latest network computing technologies, they
still retain the capability to run their traditional OS/2 applications.
*Are fully supported and maintained by IBM, giving OS/2 Warp 4 and OS/2 Warp
Server users a broad range of technical support.
OS/2 Warp 4 and OS/2 Warp Server users:
*Are eligible for the Software Advantage Program. OS/2 Warp users enrolled in
the Software Advantage Program, who purchased an eligible upgrade protection
offering, can utilize Software Choice, IBM's new electronic software
distribution program that offers product features and fixes via the World Wide
Web or CD-ROM.
"Although there are clear benefits gained by upgrading to the latest version
of OS/2 Warp, IS Executives we interview are frustrated with the time and
resource costs involved in upgrading large numbers of desktop and server
platforms.
"IBM has made a very smart and necessary move by providing their enterprise
customers with access to a team of engineers skilled in quickly and
effectively implementing the upgrade," said Robert Sakakeeny, (Aberdeen
Group's Director of Field Research). "For customers who are on the fence
about upgrading, this new services offering from IBM may give them the added
push they need."
New Service Opportunities for IBM BESTeam Members
The Rapid Deployment Team is leveraging its partners and providing new sales
and service opportunities to members of BESTeam, IBM's worldwide award-winning
channel partner program for system and network integrators, value-added
resellers and consultants. The RDT will generate demand; provide leads,
enablement tools, education and support; and develop ongoing communication
with the business partners. All business partners who are brought into
accounts with the RDT are OS/2 Warp 4 and OS/2 Warp Server certified.
"This new services offering is not only good for OS/2 customers, but for IBM
BESTeam members as well," said Richard Spurlock, vice president, Starfire
Engineering and Technologies, Inc., a large OS/2 business partner. "By making
these services available, IBM is demonstrating its commitment to OS/2
customers which makes upgrades to current and future PSP products a solid
option. This partnership drives more business for my company and provides
excellent solutions for the OS/2 customer."
Additional Services Offered by IBM's Worldwide Technical Projects Business
Unit The services offered by the RDT are complementary to those of IBM's
Worldwide Technical Project business unit. This business unit serves as a
catalyst to OS/2* Warp customers in the design and development of custom,
mission-critical, business applications based on network computing
technologies. The newly formed unit has recently completed Java applets for
CERA Bank of Belgium, and RBG of Germany and trained INSERTO AG, Switzerland's
largest OS/2 Warp reseller.
OS/2 customers interested in working with the Rapid Deployment Team should
work through their IBM representative or business partner to obtain further
information on the program. Pricing for services is determined on a per
customer basis.
Oberon Software Releases Java Programmers Toolkit
July 7, 1997, Mankato, MN...Oberon Software today released its first Java
based toolkit. "This builds on everything we have learned over the years
about multi-threaded programming under OS/2." said Oberon founder and
President Brady Flowers. "We know that developers will find many good uses
for this toolkit and we ourselves will be using it extensively in the months
to come as we begin to release a range of new Java based applications and
applets."
Building on its strength as a supplier of terminal emulation and telecom
software, Oberon has included in the new toolkit Java implementations for
ANSI, VT100, and Telnet terminal emulations and ZModem file transfers as well
as a number of Java AWT extensions and utility classes such as circular spin
buttons, Regular Expression matching, CRC calculations, and Internet e-mail
(SMTP) utility classes.
The library contains an extensive collection of classes for scientific
function plotting which, in addition to being attractive to scientists,
engineers, educators and students, can also be used by anyone needing to
display, size, and rotate three dimensional images.
Also included in the toolkit are OS/2 native classes for accessing the serial
port, HLLAPI programming, and a REXX interface which allows a developer to add
REXX scripting support to Java applications. Oberon Software plans to release
cross platform versions of these native classes in a forthcoming release of
the toolkit later this year.
Oberon Software allows the toolkit runtime package to be freely distributed
without royalty and has announced an introductory price for the programmer's
portion of the toolkit or $39.95. All interested parties are invited to
contact Oberon Software for more information. Oberon Software can be reached
by phone at 507-388-7001, their web page at *http://www.OberonSoftware.com, or
by mail at Oberon Software, Inc., 1405 E. Main St., Mankato, MN 56001, USA.
Oberon Software has been developing OS/2 software and providing OS/2 related
services since 1988. More than just a specialty, OS/2 related products and
services are Oberon Software's only business. Oberon OS/2 products include
FSHL - Oberon Software's Alternative Command Line Executive, The Oberon
Personal VoiceMail Assistant, and the Commpak/2 Programmer's Toolkit for
creating telecommunications routines under OS/2. In addition, Oberon Software
has developed unique, OS/2 based solutions for a number of major corporations
in the banking and communication industries.
Press Points
InfoWorld Electric - IBM to form services group to ease OS/2 migration by Ed
Scannell, July 14 This short on-line piece gave early notice of IBM's
announcement of its new services group that will focus on version to version
OS/2 migrations. The new group, known as the rapid deployment team (RPD),
will work on site at companies guiding corporate customers from planning to
final implementation.
Computer Reseller News - IBM puts Java spin on OS/2, July 14
The page 78 article notes that the latest OS/2 product announcements include
an open beta of the latest Java development kit making the platform more
attractive to developers and availability of the Remote Access Server
improvements for better connectivity. The performance benchmarks that
indicated applications would run 30% faster were also mentioned.
Competitive Press Points
ZDNet - NT Lies by Ed Bott
This amusing article by an NT expert, located at
www4.zdnet.com/pccpomp/features/fea0797/nt/welcome.html, takes an experienced
and often critical look at statements that Microsoft and others have made
about NT. The 10 "lies" cover topics such as C2 Security, use for mission
critical application, ease of upgrades and the zero admin kit. People not
familiar with NT will also learn a new acronym, BSOD, Blue Screen of Death.
* Indicates trademark or registered trademark of International Business
Machines Corporation.
** Indicates trademark or registered trademark of respective companies.
Copyright IBM Corporation 1997 All Rights Reserved
_________________________________________________________________________
OS/2 Warp 10th Anniversary 1987 - 1997
Personal computing to network computing...and beyond
_____________________________________________________________________
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