RE: Teleconference

It was a teleconference for folks in the new iSeries Tools Initiative (I
think), and in it John Quarantello outlined what the Tools Initiative
was (as well as embellishing a bit on the announcement on the 24th).  If
I were to boil it down to a couple of simple points:

1. IBM recognizes the iSeries as a strategic platform, in fact as the
most profitable platform for ISVs.  While the eServer brand is still
crucial, IBM seems to have finally recognized the unique value the
iSeries presents as something other than "another Java server".

2. To that end, the iSeries developer's roadmap no longer focuses on
portability as an issue, instead centering on integration of existing
technology (expressly .NET, RPG and COBOL) with newer technologies,
including Java but also things like RFID and mobile devices.

3. IBM wants to embrace all vendors with viable products, and help them
to succeed.  They realize now that "all IBM, all the time" isn't going
to work, that a key to selling iSeries will be to point to the wealth of
tools and applications already available.

4. To THAT end, IBM plans to make available lots of co-marketing and
lead generation capabilities to vendors.

This is for the tools folks.  I assume something similar will happen on
the Application Initiative side for ISVs who sell applications.

Joe

> From: Jamie Coles
> 
> Joe,
> 
> We're over in the UK and knew nothing about this teleconference -
could
> you let me know more details about this?