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OS/2 Shareware BBS: 16 Announce
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16-Announce.zip
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APPLPR.ZIP
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APPLPR.TXT
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1991-07-20
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5KB
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94 lines
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Paul T. 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, Calif., 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 platforms - from laptop computers to
large servers - and 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 communication 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.
# # #
070391
*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 Systems Laboratories, Inc.
OSF/Motif is a trademark of Open Software Foundation.|