Domino on the iSeries Versus the Competition
by Timothy Prickett Morgan

When IBM completed its $3.5 billion acquisition of groupware software maker Lotus Development in July of 1995, it was pretty obvious at the time that the advanced groupware functionality that Lotus had created, thanks mostly to Ray Ozzie, was going to be the next big thing in commercial software. While that was a lot of money to spend for an acquisition at the time--and the most money IBM has paid for any company--I think it is safe to say that the Lotus acquisition has paid for itself, and the AS/400 and iSeries lines went a long way toward paying for it. READ MORE >

Two New iSeries ISVs Target Large Accounts
by Mary Lou Roberts

According to Joyce Bordash, IBM's director of iSeries ecosystem development, more than 244 new ISVs have been lured to the platform since the beginning of 2005, even without a strong push by IBM to grow the ISV base, which, she maintains, numbered 2,608 companies last year. "This year, our Innovation Initiative is really all about enablement and taking our current set of ISVs and helping to strengthen their applications. The fact that we got new ISVs out of that was wonderful, but there really wasn't a concerted effort on our part, nor was it one that we invested in heavily." That's on the table for 2006, she says. READ MORE >

PA Semi Divulges Its Power Processor Aspirations
by Timothy Prickett Morgan

If you are going to talk up the idea of the Power processor as an open standard and as the only viable, long-term alternative to the X64 architecture being created together (through competition but certainly not cooperation) by Intel and Advanced Micro Devices, you have to put your mouth where you money is, and vice versa. And to its credit, IBM has done that by licensing the Power architecture to startup chip maker PA Semi, which will soon be competing with Big Blue in the Power chip business. READ MORE >

As I See It: Management by Intercourse
by Victor Rozek

Catchy title, isn't it? But, no, it's not what you thought, or perhaps hoped. It has nothing to do with managers having sex with their employees. Most companies frown on such unions although, heaven knows, they would give a whole new meaning to performance evaluation and would probably do wonders for management school enrollment. At the very least, everyone would do their homework. Nonetheless, the name was apparently too provocative for those whose eyes are focused on the bottom, ah, line, because Management by Intercourse was changed to the less piquant Management by Interaction (MBI). READ MORE >

   But Wait, There's More

Sun, Microsoft Work on Java-.NET Interoperability . . . ERP Vendor Infor Global Says Business Is Brisk . . . Lakeview Technology Creates Disaster Recovery Resource Center . . . DataMirror Launches Discounts, Pulls Its Stock Off NASDAQ . . . Manta Technologies Delivers New iSeries Access Courses . . . UK PeopleSoft, JDE Users Give Oracle Decent Grades . . . READ MORE >

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We value your feedback and insights. Feel free to send a letter to the editor. Letters may be printed, unless otherwise specified, and edited for clarity or length. READ MORE >

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