Although AT&T insists that its plans to float off its Unix Software Operation as a independent body was an entirely separate issue, DEC’s UK Unix marketing manager Chris Sarfas said this was the entire purpose of the talks – DEC was prepared to take an equity stake in a non-profitmaking body to control a single Unix standard – but AT&T was not prepared to accept a sensible price. Sarfas, who said the talks had gone on at the very highest levels within Digital, said that DEC was now prepared to commit to the delivery of OSF/1-based systems in 1991, including Mach and IBM’s AIX code – previously it had said that it would selectively evaluate Software Foundation tech nology as it came out. Hewlett- Packard, IBM, Groupe Bull and Hita chi will all present at the Founda tion’s Paris event. AT&T said it still plans to issue equity in Unix Software Operation by the year-end.
