In recent months, the networked desktop market has been seen as a two-way fight between Microsoft Corp and Novell Inc, with the latter responding to Microsoft invasions of its turf by mobilising its DR DOS, while retaining an interested watching brief on desktop Unix. Such perceptions emphasise the extent to which IBM is now regarded […]
In recent months, the networked desktop market has been seen as a two-way fight between Microsoft Corp and Novell Inc, with the latter responding to Microsoft invasions of its turf by mobilising its DR DOS, while retaining an interested watching brief on desktop Unix. Such perceptions emphasise the extent to which IBM is now regarded as sidelined and irrelevant, but the market can hardly dismiss out of hand what is still a $60,000m company, and IBM has an agenda of its own. According to Computer Reseller News, the company is in talks with Phoenix, Arizona-based Artisoft Inc about incorporating Artisoft’s LANtastic low-end peer-to-peer capabilities into OS/2 LAN Server and the versions of PC-DOS – and perhaps Windows – that it plans to introduce once its decree nisi on its divorce with Microsoft becomes final in September. OS/2 LAN Server 3.0 already has some peer-to-peer capabilities but integrating Artisoft’s LANtastic code into it would strengthen its position against Microsoft’s Windows for Workgroups. Dave Ball, European marketing director of Artisoft, said he had no knowledge of the discussions. But he noted that We are developing a peer-to-peer LANtastic for OS/2 support, for the middle of next year. Taking that a step further, and talking to IBM about building it in, would make sense. The talks are said to be still at an early stage. And integrating the two products would take some time, as they currently use different protocols.
