Most new AS/400 software announced for December is ready now
The availability of some AS/400 licensed programs, languages and utilities for OS/400 Version 2 Release 2 is has been moved to September 18, previously announced for December 18, 1992. Rumba/400 DBCS program, planned to be available on December 18 will ship separately after December 18, while Central Systems Administration Tools/400, Distributed System Administration Tools/400 and Facsimile Support/400 will continue to be available on December 18. The enhancements Neural Network Utility/2 Version 2 and Neural Network Utility/400 Version 2 are no longer planned for Version 2 Release 2 and an unenhanced version is to be released December 18. Other enhancements include the ability of OS/400 save and restore to enable file and other objects to be saved while in use; some size limitations of OS/400 database objects are extended; OS/400 System/36 environment enhancements improve compatibility with the System/36; SAA SystemView System Manager/400 enhances systems management through consistent packaging of applications; and SQL/400 provides prompted, customised query support. OS/400 Version 2 Release 2 has added support for detection of processor model changes on AS/400 machine types 9404 and 9406 via the use of a 16-digit system password. After the installation of OS/400 Version 2 Release 2, the system will require the single entry of the system password at the time of a system model change.
Earlier OS/400s withdrawn
Version 2 Release 1 and Version 2 Release 1.1 will be withdrawn from March 1993, and these releases cannot be ordered after March 12 1993. The new twinaxial workstation controller and the current ASCII workstation controller support enhancements to the 5250 display data stream. The Enhanced Non-Programmable Terminal User Interface is provided by the user-defined data stream and enhancements define graphical constructs; pop-up windows; selection fields; menu bars; pushbuttons and scroll bars. The data stream enhancements also improve entry field capabilities for edit mask, highlighted, cursor progression and pointer device-selectable entry fields. IBM says that it intends to enhance Data Description Specifications to support 5250 Display Data Stream extensions that enable a graphical user interface on PS/2s. This provides the ability to define graphical user interfaces using DDS display files instead of writing user-defined data streams. OS/400 Version 2 releases support VTAM APPN Version 4 Release 1, and AS/400 APPN nodes and System/390 VTAM APPN hosts are supported as APPN nodes in one APPN network. The System/390 VTAM APPN configuration associated with connecting AS/400 APPN nodes in the same APPN network is said to be reduced over the SNA connection approach, and APPN continues to be transparent to APPC and CPI-for-Communications program sessions for APPN networks of AS/400 and System/390 APPN nodes. Workstation Remote IPL/400 contains local network Support Program Version 1.3 instead of the previously announced local area network Support Program v1.2.
AS/400 PC Support/400 moves to swingeing usage-based pricing
PC Support/400 Version 2 charges, terms and ordering have been revised to enable usage-based pricing. Enhancements include the option to pay a User-Based One-Time Charge rather than the Processor-Based One-Time Charge. However, users of PC Support/400 Version 2 acquired for a User-Based One-Time Charge are defined as registered network users, and each user is registered with a primary AS/400 host system running PC Support/400. IBM says that it intends to offer a User-Based One-Time Charge option for other AS/400 programs in the future and to make available a facility for assisting customers who select the User-Based One-Time Charge option in managing the terms of the program. Once available this facility will become a prerequisite for using programs when the customer chooses the User-Based Pricing option. Another of IBM’s good intentions is to provide for User-Based to Processor-Based term conversion at a future date. Price changes becam
e effective on September 1 for the withdrawal of processor-based workstation feature one-time charges, as did the increased processor-based charges except that these increases will not apply to licensed programs for which the written order was received on or before September 1, 1992, and for programs either shipped on or before December 1, or for additional licensees, if the effective date occurs before December 1. For B5 to N6 packages, processor-based charges have increased to between $1,115 and $42,440 and the distributed systems licence options are from $980 to $37,350. To go from PC Support Version 1 to PC Support Version 2 costs between $100 and $1,500 for groups C5 to K5, and the distributed options are between $88 and $1,320. The Rumba Workstation feature is $365, the entry-level user-based charge is $750 or $660 for a distributed option and each additional user is $500. To go from processor-based pricing to user-based charges is $1,000, $880 for the distributed systems licence. The same applies to user-based pricing for a Version 1 to Version 2 upgrade.
CallPath/400 2.2 now links to AT&T, Northern Telecom PABXs
CallPath/400 Version 2 Release 2 is expanded to include direct attach to the AT&T Co Definity Generic 3r Communications System and the Northern Telecom Ltd Meridian 1 Communications System, Option 11 PABXs. Also, availability of CallPath/400 Version 2 Release 2 is improved to September 18, from December 18, 1992. Connection to the Definity G3r Communications System and Meridian 1 enables customers using these PABXs to enhance call centre operations. Existing AS/400 applications can be enhanced and/or new applications developed. With CallPath/400, users can better manage inbound and outbound calling activities. For example, during inbound activity, users can bring customer information up on terminals with incoming calls, consult with others while viewing the same customer data, and then transfer calls and information at the same time. For outbound operations, call functions for telemarketing and teleservicing can be automated.
