🚀 go-pugleaf

THE FOLLOWING RELEASE MOVED OVER PR NEWSWIRE AT 8:00 AM, EDT, WEDNESDAY, JULY
3, 1991.
 
 
Contact:
Paul Bergevin
IBM
914-765-6630
 
Barbara Krause
Apple Computer, Inc.
408-974-3719
 
Ken Phillips
Motorola, Inc.
602-952-3637
 
Apple and IBM Outline Technology Initiatives
for the 1990s
 
SAN JOSE, California--July 3, 1991--Apple Computer, Inc. and IBM will
work to create powerful new open system software platforms for the
1990s, according to a letter of intent signed today by both
companies.  The companies will develop and market new technologies
which both Apple and IBM will integrate into existing and future
products, as well as offer for use on other vendors' computers.
 
The letter of intent covers four areas of general understanding:
 
1.)  Joint venture for object-oriented software.
Apple and IBM intend to create a new open system software platform
that will be based on object-oriented technology.  The new platform
will offer major new user and system functionality, while greatly
simplifying the process of application programming.  It will span a
wide range of computing platformsPPfrom laptop computers to large
serversPPand is expected to run on major industry hardware platforms,
including Intel's x86, Motorola's 680X0, and IBM's RISC System/6000
POWER  architecture.  Apple and IBM intend to use object-oriented
technology in future product offerings, as well as in current
operating systems, assuring that applications written for current
operating systems, including AIX, OS/2 and Macintosh, will run in
these new environments.
    In order to implement this plan, Apple and IBM will form a new system
software company to be jointly owned and independently managed. The
software will be offered for sale for both IBM and Apple  computers.
Additionally, it will be marketed widely by the new company for use
on other vendors' systems.
 
2.)  Apple Macintosh computer integration into IBM's enterprise systems.
IBM and Apple plan to work together to further integrate Macintosh
into the client/server enterprise environment in two ways.  First,
Apple and IBM will develop, market, and support networking and
communications products that will further extend the ability of the
Apple Macintosh computer to operate in the IBM enterprise
environment.  Second, IBM and Apple will develop and market an
enhanced AIX (IBM's industry-standard UNIX  operating system) that
combines the best of IBM's open systems with Macintosh and its
thousands of user-oriented productivity applications.  The enhanced
AIX will span the range from desktop workstations to servers, and
will offer Macintosh and OSF/Motif user interfaces.
 
3.)  Significant new markets for the IBM POWER RISC architecture.
Apple intends to adopt future single-chip implementations of IBM's
RS/6000 POWER architecture--called POWER PC--in future Apple
Macintosh personal computers.  Both companies will use POWER PC
microprocessors in workstations and file servers.  Motorola, Inc. and
IBM will use their  expertise to design and manufacture a new family
of world-class POWER PC chips.  Motorola will serve as a source to
IBM, Apple and other open systems vendors.  Motorola intends to
market the POWER PC microprocessors in configurations that will
target a broad spectrum of systems.
 
4.)  Common multimedia platforms for the industry.
IBM and Apple plan to work together to create and license platform-
independent software environments that will stimulate widespread
industry development of this new technology.  New multimedia
technology resulting from this effort also will be made available for
use on other vendors' products.
    Implementation of the letter of intent is contingent on the execution
of definitive contracts.  The companies intend to complete the
contracts later this year and will release further details only at
that time.  Products resulting from these agreements are expected to
reach the marketplace over the next two to three years.
 
-30-
 
1991 Apple Computer Inc., Apple, and the Apple logo and Macintosh
are registered trademarks of Apple Computer Inc.  IBM, AIX and OS/2
are registered trademarks of International Business Machines
Corporation.  POWER and POWER PC are trademarks of International
Business Machines Corporation.  UNIX is a registered trademark of
UNIX Laboratories.  OSF/Motif is a trademark of Open Software Foundation.
 
Apple Press Releases
PR Express
7/3/91