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In This Issue
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We Bring It All Together So You Don't Have To.
Sponsored By
 PROFOUND LOGIC SOFTWARE
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Attention RPG Developers
Have you heard of the intuitive way to build iSeries Web Applications?
It's called RPGsp or RPG Smart Pages!
Click www.ProfoundLogic.com
to download the Powerful
Integrated Development Environment
specifically built for
RPG-based Web Development.
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Top OS/400 Stories from Around the Web
(Guild Companies) According to this article, there are two big iSeries-related questions for OS/400 shops. What does the future of programming look like on the iSeries? What skills should programmers be building for the future? This week, Guild Companies published a hard look at RPG, the main programming language for OS/400 programmers, and researched what RPG's future--and, therefore, what an iSeries programmer's future--might be. This is interesting reading, if your fortune is intertwined with the iSeries.
(Guild Companies) IBM's North American, Mexican, and Latin American customers can now buy a single iSeries machine directly from IBM's Web site or through its direct telesales department and get a 5 percent discount. Machines must be for internal use, and resellers are prohibited from taking the discount. Given that most people won't bother buying a big-ticket item like an iSeries box over the Web or over the phone for a measly five percent discount, just what is IBM up to here?
(MC Press Online) Reports are surfacing that IBM will add a new tool called WebSphere Host Access Transformation Servers to its iSeries Access product line in about two months. WebSphere HATS is an alternative, and eventual replacement, for WebSphere Host Publisher, which is already part of the iSeries Access products.
(IBM Lotus) IBM's Lotus division has announced that the first beta version of Lotus Notes and Domino 6.5 is now available from the Lotus Web site. New and upcoming features include improved usability and performance, improved mail management, integrated instant messaging and awareness, and quick rules for junk-mail management.
(Guild Companies) Big Blue says Hallelujah for Global Services. If not for a 23.6 percent surge in services sales, IBM would have seen revenues decline and would not have made any money in the quarter just ended. But is this good news for the iSeries, which accounted for $316 million of IBM's total Server Group sales?
(MC Press Online) This article looks at product results, geography, and hardware and software to uncover a story behind the first-quarter results IBM has just released.
(CRN) John Swainson, general manager of IBM Software Group's Application and Integration Middleware Division, is the man in charge of IBM's WebSphere brand. This week, Swainson sat down with CRN to discuss IBM's midmarket push with WebSphere Express, as well as the competitive landscape for Java middleware.
(CRN) If you're not convinced that Java application servers are becoming a commodity, this story from CRN details the low-end application server price war that's happening right now between IBM and BEA Systems. It contains a concise chart comparing all popular application servers by company, Java technologies supported, and price. And guess what? BEA WebLogic Express is undercutting IBM's WebSphere Express pricing by about $1,500 per CPU. Kind of makes you wonder whether another WebSphere Express price drop is in the works.
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Sponsored By
 ITERA
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High Availability / Disaster Recovery
The World's Best High Availability Solution!
iTera offers a comprehensive suite of continuous availability solutions for the iSeries. We eliminate unplanned downtime caused by system failures and disasters, as well as planned downtime from backups, system saves, application upgrades, OS upgrades, data conversions, file reorgs, and system migrations.
To realize the benefits of true 24/7 operations,
call 1-800-957-4511,
email us at info@iterainc.com,
or visit our website at www.iterainc.com.
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Vendor Announcements, Promotions, And Deals
(Guild Companies) Since it was established as a subsidiary of OS/400 banking software vendor Jack Henry & Associates seven years ago, Centurion has signed up approximately 60 percent, or 1,100, of Jack Henry software users as its own customers. In January, Centurion launched a new campaign offering its disaster recovery services to the wide range of OS/400 shops working in industries besides banking.
(Guild Companies) Next week Create!form International will begin shipping a new version of Create!archive that allows users to scan paper-based documents into the archive using high-volume Kofax scanners and low-volume Hewlett-Packard scanners. Users can even scan from Windows programs and capture spool files directly as they come off the print queue.
(Guild Companies) Data Processing Services has announced the general availability of PocketFlash, a new database-driven application that gives sales representatives access to ERP-resident features and information--such as order creation, product availability, and order status--by using a Microsoft PocketPC-based handheld computer.
(iSeries Network) Banking powerhouse Fiserv, maker of OS/400-based banking system ICBS and other financial software, is on a buying spree. Recent moves include the acquisitions of AVIDYN, Lenders Financial Services, and Precision Computer Systems, as well as the company's announced intentions to buy ReliaQuote, Wassau Benefits, and Management Solutions Group.
(Guild Companies) Last week, Magic Software released eDeveloper 9.4, which, the company says, is the biggest release of its fourth-generation-language development environment. Major new features include new XML, COM, and Java support, as well as support for standard messaging environments, including WebSphere MQ, MSMQ, and Java Messaging Services. The software contains much of the underlying technology that will be central to Magic's iBolt integration strategy.
(iSeries Network) With a $75 million war chest for new acquisitions, ComputerWire reported that Systems Software Associates GT (SSA GT) was the front-runner to buy the Baan enterprise software unit of Invensys. Asked to comment, SSA GT's director of mergers and acquisitions said "...[SSA GT's] policy is not to comment on what acquisitions might take place."
(Information Week) Coming at the Baan story from another angle, Information Week reported that The Yankee Group issued an advisory stating that SAP is the most likely buyer for Baan, but that other companies, such as IBM, EDS, Accenture, and GE Capital, could also pull off the deal.
(iSeries Network) And another precinct checks in on the Baan-up-for-sale story. Forrester Research analyst Charles Homs was quoted as saying potential Baan suitors include System Software Associates, Golden Gate Capital, Bain Capital, Computer Associates, Geac, and Microsoft. Considering this and previous stories on potentials buyers of Baan, it seems the media is pretty much clueless about what's going to happen with this sale.
(Information Week) ERP vendor SAP has reported that its first quarter software license sales fell 12.4 percent compared with one year ago. The bright news is that, in spite of the licensing drop, the company's worldwide market share climbed to 54 percent at the end of the first quarter, compared with 51 percent worldwide last quarter.
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New Redbooks, White Papers, and Other OS/400 Resources
(IBM) IBM.com's Clearance Corner Web site offers reduced prices on components for older AS/400 machines. This week's clearance items feature discount prices on 4-port twinax expansion units; Ethernet, Token Ring, and ATM cards; storage device controllers; 8.5 GB, 10K RPM disk drives; 32 MB main store; Integrated PC Server/Integrated NetFinity Server memory; as well as complete Integrated PC Server packages. Many of the last-chance items are only available in the clearance corner and will not be sold again by IBM after its inventory is depleted.
(IBM) Draft Redbook -- Linux Handbook: A Guide to IBM Linux Solutions and Resources is a high-level overview of IBM products and how they relate to the Linux operating system. Included is a 22-page chapter on running Linux on the iSeries.
(IBM) The iSeries Access Service Packs for Supported Releases Web site contains links to the latest service packs for iSeries Access products, including iSeries Access for Windows V5R2M0; Client Access Express for Windows V5R1M0 and V4R5M0; and Client Access Express for Windows 95/NT V3R2M0. You can download the latest service packs and retrieve current information about service pack history, iSeries Access end of service dates, and other methods for acquiring service packs.
(IBM) The Lotus Developer Domino Downloads Web site contains links to the latest trials, upgrades, and toolkits for IBM Lotus products. Included are the latest Domino server upgrades for the iSeries and other platforms that Domino runs on. If you're looking for Domino for iSeries 6.0.1 upgrades, however, be careful to go to the Download Domino Server updates links, rather than the Domino for iSeries updates link. The Download Domino Server updates link contains the latest Domino 6.0.1 CF1 (Critical Fix 1) upgrade released in February, while the Domino for iSeries page wasn't listing that download at press time.
(JustAS400Jobs.com) If you're disgruntled with your current job or have recently been let go, this Web site is a good resource for AS/400 jobs, whether you're on the trail in Cheyenne or kicking back in King of Prussia.
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Sponsored By
 CLIENT SERVER DEVELOPMENT
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LEARN SQL BY EXAMPLE!
Buy your copy of iSeries and AS/400 SQL at Work direct from the author, Howard F. Arner, Jr. This is THE BOOK to teach you SQL on the iSeries.
Howard takes you through SQL by example. The book comes with a CD that has all of the sample data and queries used in the book and a FREE copy of SQLThing that you can use to work through the examples.
Learn by doing! Order your copy at SQLThing.com today!
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Chats, Webinars, Seminars, Shows, and Other Happenings
April 30-May 2 -- RPG World, an educational event for iSeries programmers presented by some of the top authorities on RPG and iSeries application development, will be held in Orlando, Florida. Topics include RPG, Web development, and general iSeries application development. Go to www.rpgworld.com for more information.
April-July -- Aldon Computer Group will present its user group tour at various user group meetings throughout the United States. Go to www.aldon.com/events/user_tour.html for a list of meetings that Aldon will attend.
April-May -- iSeries professionals in the greater Washington, D.C., area can take advantage of a continuing series of technical seminars organized through the cooperative efforts of two local user groups: Washington Area Midrange and Mid Atlantic Midrange. Go to www.wash-midrange.org/seminars.html for details and a list of upcoming seminars and locations. Next up is David Prescott presenting System Management of the AS/400 and iSeries Systems, April 30, in Fort Washington, Pa.
April-May -- Information Availability Institute will host a number of free workshops focused on the management and interrelationship of networks, applications, security, databases, servers, and storage. Venues include Detroit (May 6), New York City (May 6), Oklahoma City (May 7), Houston (May 20), and Winnipeg, Manitoba (June 2). Go to www.availabilityinstitute.org for more details.
April-June -- Bytware is conducting several workshops to help customers take advantage of the most valuable features of Bytware's monitoring, security, and paging products. Workshop topics include MessengerPlus, StandGuard, and MessengerConsole. Go to www.bytware.com/edu.htm for more information.
May 7 -- Help Systems presents a Webinar covering Robot/SCHEDULE Enterprise Scheduling from an iSeries and AS/400, Unix, Windows, Domino, and SAP. Learn about the benefits are of controlling job scheduling from an iSeries box, and which of Help Systems' Robot Automated Operations Solution products can help you. Go to Help Systems' Web site to sign up.
May 19-23 -- IBM presents the IBM Software Symposium 2003 in Munich, Germany. Covering the entire spectrum of IBM solutions, this symposium offers more than 200 technology demonstration points, track education, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and Dr. Henry Kissinger, Nobel Laureate and international statesman, as an external keynote speaker. Go to www-3.ibm.com/events/symposium2003/showcase.shtml for more information.
May 22 -- Tom Huntington, vice president of technical services for Help Systems, will host a Webinar on the company's new Robot/TRANSFORM E-Conference product. TRANSFORM E-Conference translates the content of OS/400-based electronic forms packages from PCL (Hewlett-Packard's printer language) or AFP (IBM's printer language) to PDF. Go to Help Systems' Web site to learn more.
May-November -- ASNA has added a number of one-day seminars on ASNA Visual RPG and Caviar and running AVR for .NET. Seminars will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina; Hartford, Connecticut; San Francisco; Denver; St. Louis; Houston; and Guildford, England. For a complete list of seminar topics, locations, and dates, go to www.asna.com/0303_ASNA_Visions_seminars.asp.
May 21 -- The Toronto User Group's meeting features "High Availability for the Real World," presented by Mike Warkentin of DataMirror and "EDI and the Internet" presented by Jeff Meltzer of EXTOL. Go to www.tug.on.ca/t_agenda.html#TEC2003 for more information.
May 25-27 -- The COMMON European Congress will hold its 2003 conference in Warsaw, Poland. Like its U.S. counterpart, the European show will present iSeries education, presentations, and a vendor exposition. Go to http://comeur.org/cec2003/ for more information.
June 9-12 -- J.D. Edwards presents the Quest Global Conference (formally known as JDE Focus). Staged in Denver, this conference centers on user-driven education, training, and speakers, with a J.D. Edwards focus. Go to the J.D. Edwards Web site for more information.
June 15-18 -- The 2003 iSeries & AS/400 Connection Conference offers four days of iSeries education at the Registry Resort in Naples, Florida. The iSeries educational tracks focus on application development, Java, SQL, e-business, operations, and security. Speakers include Dr. Frank Soltis, Al Barsa Jr., Allison Butterill, Wayne O. Evans, Susan Gantner, Janet Krueger, Jon Paris, Jim Sloan, and Howard F. Arner Jr. Go to www.tramenco.com/naples for more information and registration.
June 23-27 -- IBM presents its iSeries Technical Conference at the Hilton Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas. According to IBM, this is the place where technical experts and programmers can get their questions answered by IBM's best Rochester and Toronto experts. Go to www-3.ibm.com/services/learning/conf/us/iseries/ for more information.
July 17 -- The OCEAN iSeries User Group will present its 10th annual one-day "Catch the Wave" iSeries technical conference and vendor expo at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 17900 Jamboree Boulevard, Irvine, California. Training sessions will be conducted by Bob Cozzi, Allison Butterill, and Wayne O. Evans, on topics such as RPG IV Advanced Techniques, WebSphere Development Tools, iSeries Security and Infrastructure. Dr. Frank Soltis will be the keynote speaker. Go to www.ocean400.org for more information.
July 20-23 -- LANSA presents its 2003 International LANSA Conference at the Renaissance Hotel in Chicago. The conference includes product education, customer success stories, strategic directions, hands-on labs, and roundtable discussions. The keynote speaker will be IBM's Malcolm Haines of the IBM eServer iSeries Marketing group. Register by May 15 and get a free LANSA stadium blanket. Go to www.lansa.com/conference/index.htm for more information.
September 7-11 -- The COMMON user group presents its fall 2003 conference and expo in Orlando, Florida. Meet industry experts, attend hands-on labs, exchange information with fellow professionals, attend a multitude of educational tracks, and get real-world solutions at the vendor expo. Go to the COMMON Web site for more information and to register.
October 13-17 -- IBM presents an iSeries Technical Conference at the Renaissance Hotel in Orlando, Florida. According to IBM, this is the place where technical experts and programmers can get their questions answered by IBM's most knowledgeable Rochester and Toronto experts. Go to www-3.ibm.com/services/learning/conf/us/iseries/ for more information.
November 18-21 -- EXTOL will host its 2003 user conference at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. Attendees registering during April are eligible for a special two-for-one price, which includes an in-depth tutorial program. Go to www.extol.com/forms/uc2003/confinfo.cfm for more information.
April 28-30, 2004 -- ASNApalooza 2004 will be held at the Westin River Walk Hotel in San Antonio. ASNApalooza is three days of ASNA Visual RPG instruction and technical insight, with an emphasis on the RPG development environment for Microsoft's .NET platform. No word yet on who the keynote speaker might be, but if you register by May 31, you can attend the conference for $900, a savings of $1,100 off the regular price for registration. Go to www.asna.com/0303_ASNA_Visions_palooza2004.asp for more information.
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Editor: Joe Hertvik
Managing Editor: Shannon Pastore
Publisher and Advertising Director: Jenny Thomas
Advertising Sales Representative: Kim Reed
If you have a resource, event, or any other interesting item that you want to see publicized in Midrange Monitor, send an e-mail to Joe Hertvik
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