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IBM Announces Availability of OS/2 Warp 4



September 25, 1996

The Easiest Way to a Connected World 

SAN FRANCISCO, September 25, 1996 . . . At an event replete with IBM and
industry support, IBM today announced the availability of the OS/2* Warp 4
operating system solution. Incorporating features like Sun Microsystems'
Java technology and IBM VoiceType* speech recognition software, OS/2 Warp 4
promises to help transition customers into the era of network computing. 

"IBM envisions a future in which people have easy access to the information
they need to work more productively," said IBM Software Group senior vice
president and group executive, John M. Thompson. "IBM's Software Group is 
making great strides toward that future by ensuring that our software lineup 
assists IBM in delivering to our customers network computing solutions based 
on open standards. Today we introduce an exciting new version of OS/2 Warp -- 
a key member of IBM's entire family of software products." 

"OS/2 Warp will protect customers' current investments in client/server
computing, while carrying them into the new model of network computing,"
said John W.Thompson, general manager for IBM Personal Software Products, 
who joined partners from JavaSoft, Netscape Communications Corporation and 
Lotus to introduce the new software. "OS/2 Warp 4 has the system management 
and networking capabilities needed to run businesses today. But it also comes
with the hottest Internet and intranet abilities around -- and that will help
customers move into the network computing solutions of tomorrow." 

From Client/Server to Network Computing 

At the core of OS/2 Warp 4 is the fast, manageable and robust OS/2 operating
system that customers have relied upon for years to run their businesses.
Not only has IBM improved the operating system, but it has added additional 
system management features and the networking and Internet functionality 
needed to connect users to data from just about anywhere in today's scattered 
business environment. 

"We chose to roll out OS/2 on our customer service workstations and branch
servers for its reliable multitasking and crash resistance," said David Knight,
assistant vice president and manager of client/server technical services at 
Trustmark National Bank in Jackson, Mississippi. "We are excited to upgrade 
to OS/2 Warp 4 because of the new opportunities it affords us with Java** and 
the Internet." 

OS/2 Warp 4 is the universal client in client/server computing. Using OS/2
Warp 4, customers will be able to access data on systems of many sizes, from 
peer networks to popular PC servers -- like OS/2 Warp Server, Novell Netware 
and Windows NT -- to mainframe systems. OS/2 Warp 4 also incorporates remote
access capabilities, Mobile File Synchronization and Advanced Power Management,
 allowing users to take their offices on the road.  

OS/2 Warp 4 is also the ideal Internet client. With the soon-to-be-released
Netscape Navigator*** Internet client software for OS/2 Warp, object-oriented
technology and built-in VoiceType speech recognition software, Internet and
intranet users will find going to a Web site as easy as clicking on a desktop 
icon representing its Universal Resource Locator (URL) or saying "Jump to 
today's financial news." 

But users do not need to be on the Internet to experience its power. OS/2
Warp 4 is the first PC operating system solution to incorporate Sun 
Microsystems' Java technology, allowing users to run Java applets and 
applications independent of a Web browser on their desktops. OS/2 Warp 4 will 
come with the runtime code necessary for running Java applications, a Java 
developer toolkit and Java applet samples. 

"With OS/2 Warp 4, IBM builds upon its track record of delivering leading
edge enhancements targeted at corporate and institutional customers into its
32-bit operating system solution," said Frank Dzubeck, industry analyst and
president of Communication Network Architects, Inc. in Washington, D.C. "IBM
has evolved the next generation of OS/2 Warp into a premier example of a 
network computing engine. Native support for Netscape Navigator and the 
inclusion of Sun Microsystems' Java Virtual Machine clearly focuses OS/2 Warp 4
on IT industry demand for cross-platform application solutions developed on
Internet and intranet standards-based technologies." 

"IBM is the first to put support for Java into its PC operating system
solution with OS/2 Warp 4 and we are really excited about that," said
Elizabeth Statmore, vice president of sales and marketing at Sarrus Software, 
a leading developer of Java-based scheduling software for enterprise intranets.
"By introducing its customers to Java, IBM is bringing Java to a large 
mainstream audience while also giving its customers a significant 
time-to-market advantage over those who are still waiting for native Java 
support. IBM's commitment to Java will certainly help to establish it as an 
industry standard." 

OS/2 Warp 4 also comes with runtime support for OpenDoc and support for Live
Objects, providing an open framework for platform-independent re-use of 
OpenDoc components. OpenDoc is a robust architecture for creating component
software that can be shared and customized across heterogeneous environments.
OpenDoc's component-based integrated structure allows developers and 
end-users to build higher quality applications faster, with reduced costs.
With the ability to run OpenDoc components and Java applications in addition 
to OS/2, DOS and most Windows 3.x programs, OS/2 Warp 4 will provide users 
with incredible application support. 

Easy to Talk To and Easier to Work With 

OS/2 Warp 4 also allows users to talk to their computers, completely changing
the way people interact with computers and redefining the phrase "ease of use."
Incorporating IBM's leading VoiceType technology in speech navigation and
dictation, OS/2 Warp 4 allows users to execute menu commands and dictate
letters or memos simply by talking to their computers. With the soon-to-be-
released Netscape Navigator for OS/2, which is optimized for speech recognition,
users will be able to explore the Internet with their voices, as well. 

The voice recognition software is speaker independent, meaning the computer
will understand most users without training. The software even recognizes
words in context and executes the correct spelling when it runs across homonyms,
like to, too and two. 

OS/2 Warp 4 also boasts a cleaner and more logical user interface with
visual enhancements like 3-D shadowed icons, 256 color exploitation, an
attractive new system font and the new WarpCenter -- an icon ribbon on the 
desktop that combines the best of the Lotus SmartCenter and the OS/2 Warp 
LaunchPad to help users customize their desktops, group their applications 
and check on the status of their systems. 

System Requirements 

The system requirements for OS/2 Warp 4 will vary depending on options 
installed. Minimum requirements are an Intel 486/33 or higher with 12 to 16
megabytes of memory. For speech navigation: Intel Pentium/75 or higher 
with 16 to 20 megabytes of memory. For speech navigation and dictation: 
Intel Pentium/100 or higher with 24 to 32 megabytes of memory. 

Installation by selecting options requires 100 to 300 megabytes of free disk
space across user-selectable partitions. An installation of IBM preselected
options requires 200 megabytes of free disk space. Other requirements 
are a 1.44 megabyte 3.5 inch diskette drive "A", an OS/2-compatible CD-ROM 
drive, an IBM-compatible mouse, 14.4 kilobyte or higher modem or network 
connection for Internet/Intranet access, a supported sound card for speech 
recognition and multimedia and a noise-cancelling microphone and adapter for 
speech. 

Packaging, Pricing and Availability 

OS/2 Warp 4 is immediately available in U.S. English in many countries and
is planned to be available in 28 national language versions by the second
half of 1997, beginning with many major European languages within the next 
45 days. The suggested retail price**** in the United States is $249 for 
first-time OS/2 customers and $149 for upgrades from previous releases of 
OS/2. The incredible value includes OS/2 Warp 4, Lotus Notes Mail 4.1, an 
application sampler CD-ROM with light versions of approximately 80 OS/2 
applications, and a CD-ROM with access to hundreds of OS/2 device drivers. 

Customers may order OS/2 Warp 4 by calling 1-800-IBMCALL, or through a
certified IBM Business Enterprise Solutions Team (BESTeam*) member. For a
listing of BESTeam members by state, customers may access
www.software.ibm.com/sw-sell/eudir.html. For more information about IBM's
software products, go to www.software.ibm.com. 

* OS/2, VoiceType and BESTeam are trademarks or registered trademarks of IBM
Corporation. 

** Java is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. 

*** Netscape and Netscape Navigator are trademarks of the Netscape
Communications Corporation. 

All other product and service names may be trademarks and/or service marks
of their respective owners. 

****All prices are the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Reseller
prices may vary. 

For Internet users, IBM offers complete information about the company, its
products, services and technology on the World Wide Web. The IBM home page
is at http://www.ibm.com. The fastest, easiest way to find any information about
IBM software is to go to the IBM Software home page at 
http://www.software.ibm.com. The IBM Fax Information Service allows you to
receive facsimiles of prior IBM product press releases. Dial 1-800-IBM-4FAX
or 415-855-4329 and enter "99" at the voice menu. 

Please Note: Questions about the content or currency of this press release
should be directed to your local IBM representative. 

Viel Spass ;-)

P.S. Ein 486 DX/4 120 MHz mit 32 MB (Meiner ;-) ist zu langsam fuer die 
Spracheingabe, er geht zwar (macht auch riesig Spass), aber man wird das 
Gefuehl nicht los, dass man die Fahrschule wohl nie verlaesst ;-)
(In Fachchinesisch : Das Response Timing der Voicetyp-Applikation
ist zu traege ;-))

--

Rainer Meller 

 All resistance is NOT futile ? / Hugh 3rd of 4 / A Borg / StarTrek
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