[392] in comp.os.os2.announce archive
OS/2 NEWS: IBM outlines plans for continued enhancement of Warp
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (tsipple@vnet.IBM.COM)
Sun Nov 19 00:51:30 1995
To: os2ann.DISCUSS@bloom-picayune.MIT.EDU
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 1995 12:30:04 GMT
From: tsipple@vnet.IBM.COM
Reply-To: tsipple@vnet.IBM.COM
Submitted by: Timothy F. Sipples (tsipple@vnet.ibm.com)
Source: Timothy F. Sipples (tsipple@vnet.ibm.com)
Date received: 1995 November 17
Date posted: 1995 November 18
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PSP PRESS REL: IBM OUTLINES 1996 PLANS AND STRATEGY
FOR OS/2 WARP FAMILY
1996 Product Plans Target Connected Consumers and Corporate Users
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 15, 1995...John W. Thompson, the recently
appointed general manager of IBM's Personal Software Products
division, today outlined his plans for the continued enhancement
of the OS/2* Warp family in 1996 and beyond. Speaking here at
COMDEX/Fall '95, he reinforced IBM's commitment to OS/2 and the
"connected consumer," and outlined key products planned for
delivery in 1996.
Thompson described plans for OS/2 Warp Server, currently in
beta test; the next version of the OS/2 Warp client, code-named
Merlin; the microkernel-based versions of OS/2 Warp; and IBM's
integrated server series, code-named Project Eagle.
Targeting Connected Consumers and Corporate Users
"We are very interested in a specific kind of consumer as we
move into the age of network-centric computing: the connected
user," said Thompson. "We'll continue to provide them with a
stable, powerful operating system that gets easier to use and
install with each release, and gives them the reliable
connections that are essential to linking up with their
customers, suppliers, business partners or informational
sources."
Thompson also reinforced IBM's commitment to corporate users
in enterprise workgroup environments. "We remain committed to
delivering advanced solutions to our staunchest supporters:
corporate users," he said. Industry analysts are reporting
significant growth in 1995 for OS/2 Warp and LAN Server in the
corporate market. According to IDC, OS/2 Warp will gain three
share points of the total operating system market by the end of
the year. In the first half of 1995, OS/2 outshipped Windows**
NT two to one in the server market. OS/2 LAN Server 4.0 has
increased its market share this year, from nine percent to 15
percent, IDC added.
OS/2 Warp: The Next Generation
At the core of the 1996 product plan is the next version of
the OS/2 Warp client, code-named Merlin. IBM plans to
significantly enhance OS/2 Warp's user interface to be easier and
more intuitive. As part of IBM's plans for network-centric
computing, the Merlin interface will be network aware, making
connections automatically as the user needs them. Merlin will
offer improved multimedia and game capabilities, enhanced
plug-and-play features, and an updated BonusPak. It will include
the Upgrade Advisor, a utility in the Just Add OS/2 Warp kit
which simplifies the installation process.
For corporate users, Merlin will offer C-2 security
extensions and improved input/output queue performance. It will
include the Developer API Extensions to make it easier for
software developers to write Windows 95 and OS/2 Warp
applications simultaneously. It will also feature integrated
OpenDoc runtime support, which will enable developers to start
using OpenDoc components in their applications and give users the
ability to embed OLE 2.0 information in OS/2 Warp documents.
Another focus of the 1996 product strategy will be the IBM
Microkernel and microkernel-based versions of OS/2 Warp. Nearly
20 corporations, universities and research institutes worldwide
have licensed the microkernel, laying the foundation for a
completely open microkernel standard. IBM plans portable,
microkernel-based versions of OS/2 Warp for both Intel and
PowerPC platforms. The first portable version will be OS/2 Warp
for the PowerPC, which will ship later this year.
Finally, on the server side, Thompson confirmed IBM's plans
for a series of cross-platform application and enabling servers,
code-named Project Eagle. OS/2 Warp Server, currently in beta
test, will be one of the base operating systems upon which the
Eagle series is delivered. OS/2 Warp Server is expected to ship
in the first quarter of 1996, followed by Directory and Security
Services and the SMP version of OS/2 Warp.
"The bottom line is that 1995 has been a good year for OS/2
Warp," said Thompson. "And we're anticipating that the future
will be even brighter as we continue to extend and improve OS/2
Warp as the desktop client for connected consumers and strengthen
OS/2 Warp as an advanced, battle-tested server solution that will
simplify distributed computing for businesses and workgroups of
all sizes."
* Indicates trademark or registered trademark of International
Business Machines Corporation.
** Indicates trademark or registrered trademark of Microsoft
Corporation.
IBM news releases are available on the Internet, via the IBM Home
Page at http://www.ibm.com. The IBM Fax Information Service
allows you to receive facsimiles of prior IBM product press
releases. Dial 1-800-IBM-4FAX and enter "99" at the voice menu.
