CA Offers Mainframe Software Bundles and Freebie Services
by Timothy Prickett Morgan

As part of its reorganization last year, software maker CA, which has a mainframe heritage in software that is perhaps second only to IBM itself, created a mainframe business unit and tapped Chris O'Malley to be its general manager. Today, CA is unveiling a new set of software bundles for mainframe customers--complete with a shift in pricing that will save them money and some free services to boot--as part of the reinvigoration of its mainframe business. READ MORE >

Top Mainframe Stories from Around the Web

(IT Jungle) The weak dollar, strong economies outside the United States, good sales of Power6-based 570-class servers, and the services behemoth helped IBM recover from a deep falloff in System z mainframe servers in the fourth quarter of 2007. Do you think everyone knew that new z6-based mainframes were just around the corner? READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) When it comes to the introduction of platform enhancements based on the z6 and Power6 processors, it seems as though IBM is treating this progression much more like a marathon than a sprint. Even though the Power6 servers were expected by the end of 2006, and IBM officials have said there are no design or manufacturing issues with the Power6 chips, the System i and System p server lines still await a refresh excepting a single high-end box that came out last year. New mainframes are expected at the end of February, IBM has confirmed. READ MORE >

(zJournal) The IT professional organization known as SHARE has close ties with IBM, particularly the mainframe business unit and its largest enterprise customers. So a survey of this group can be quite revealing given that these are some of Big Blue's most loyal mainframe advocates. So what would you guess they have to say about their data integration and service oriented architecture plans? READ MORE >

(Enterprise Systems) Lower than expected third quarter revenue figures from the IBM mainframe division will be seized on by those who make a living by dissing big iron. However, jumping to conclusions is not a particularly good way to make informed choices. A closer examination of the situation indicates that System z should rebound quite nicely. READ MORE >

(InformationWeek) IBM mainframes are playing a big role in two major deals that IBM announced last week. Although one of the contracts was finalized six months ago, the news was only made available last week. There could be many reasons for this, one of which is timing press releases to maximize impact. READ MORE >

Chats, Webinars, Seminars, Shows, and Other Happenings

See our full calendar of events at
http://www.itjungle.com/big/big-calendar.html

February 5 -- Virtual Meeting - The Virtual IMS Connection user group meeting will feature guest speaker Bill Keene of NEON Enterprise Software discussing IMS disaster recovery preparation. The session begins at 10:30 a.m. CST. LEARN MORE >

February 24-29 -- Orlando, Florida - The SHARE mainframe user group will be hosting its spring event in sunny Florida, and will be focusing on two areas that are affecting mainframe shops in a big way these days: Services Oriented Architecture (SOA) application software design and server virtualization and consolidation. As usual, SHARE will also include the Technology Exchange Expo, where vendors can hawk their mainframe wares and attendees can try to find the tools to solve their IT woes. LEARN MORE >

April 6-11 -- Las Vegas, Nevada - Impact 2008, IBM's "Smart SOA Conference" is a showcase for WebSphere as the foundation, the tools, and all the materials needed to create a service oriented architecture. Technical experts from IBM, analysts, and companies that have implemented SOA solutions are taking the starring roles in this production. In addition to educational sessions and keynote addresses, there will be a solution center expo area. LEARN MORE >

May 18-22 -- Orlando, Florida -- Users of IBM's Tivoli Maximo and Netcool software have their own conference dedicated to integrating the silo environments that are prevalent in many data centers and improving service management. Included in the event will be presentations by more than 100 customers and business partners and one-on-one meetings with IBM executives, industry experts and analysts. LEARN MORE >