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Forwarding note from:  <Owner-OS2News@teamos2.org> 04/13/96 01:16am -0400
From: Owner-OS2News@teamos2.org 
Subject: OS2News: IBM GM for PSP Banks on OS/2 Warp 
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Status:    
   
   Computing 
    
   News 
    
                          Thompson banks on OS/2 Warp 
                                        
   by Paulina Borsook 
    
   The IBM executive tipped by some US analysts as a future chairman or 
   chief executive of the company has staked his professional reputation 
   on IBM's OS/2 Warp Server winning out in the marketplace against 
   Windows NT. 
    
   In an exclusive interview, John W Thompson, IBM general manager for 
   the Personal Software Products Division, said OS/2 Warp Server would 
   win out because it addresses the major concern of IT professionals, 
   namely security. 
    
   His views were echoed this week by Dean Adams, security and 
   electronics commerce manager of X/Open, who said a recent European 
   Security Forum survey had suggested that current limitations in 
   security may result in users rejecting Unix outright in favour of 
   other operating systems. 
    
   'Cryptography and security are the most important issues facing 
   network managers,' Thompson said. 'Directory capability is also 
   important, so people know where they are at any time. If they don't 
   have this, how can they manage in a distributed heterogeneous 
   environment?' 
    
   Thompson started the new year with a firm statement to his staff that 
   Merlin, the code name for the next version of OS/2 Warp, will be 
   delivered on time in the second half of this year. It will have 
   enhanced Internet and networking tools, an improved interface, 
   multimedia support, and more plug-and-play features. 
    
   He continues to be bullish, despite the fact that by nailing his 
   colours so clearly to the OS/2 mast, he stands to go down with his 
   ship if OS/2 fails to live up to expectations. 'With Warp's capability 
   to run DOS, Windows and OS/2, it runs more applications than any other 
   operating system -and OS/2 and LAN server increased their market-share 
   in 1995 from 9% to 15%.' 
    
   Thompson gives no sign of acknowledging the potential 'poisoned 
   chalice' that OS/2 could be to his career ambitions. But veteran US 
   IBM watcher and analyst Bob Djurdjevic says that when he heard 
   Thompson had been appointed head of Software, 'I immediately offered 
   him my congratulations and condolences.' 
    
   One of Thompson's most difficult decisions was to limit the launch of 
   OS/2 for the PowerPC to a developers-only release. A much easier 
   decision was to make the add-on directory and security services (DSS) 
   upgrade to OS/2 Warp Server a free-of-charge component when it is 
   released in May or June. 
    
   And for those users who insist on not switching back to Warp from Unix 
   or Windows NT, Thompson is committed to making DSS available on both 
   platforms. 
    
     Additional reporting by Infoworld and Computing staff. 
    
   4 April 1996 
    
   (c) 1996 VNU Business Publications Ltd.