AT&T this week finally announced the long awaited separation of its Unix development activities from the rest of its computer business with the formation of the Unix Software Operation, a separate business unit that will be responsible for the development, marketing and licensing of Unix System V software. The move was spurred by the worries of Unix vendors that AT&T’s computer systems interests were compromising the hardware independence of Unix. The new division will take in Unix System V product planning and management as well as licensing and marketing, and will include AT&T’s Unix Pacific and Unix Europe operations. The division will work with the newly-formed Unix International Inc consortium, which according to AT&T will provide direction to the new business unit on product definition, licensing policies and product release schedules. Although planning for System V.4.0 is already complete, the new unit expects Unix International to advise us on related issues for that release. Unix International is currently concentrating on formalising the process for input and review between the two groups, and developing a plan on how to provide early access to the source code of V.4. The Unix Software Operation, which will also deal with system software such as the C compiler and the Open Look graphical interface, will be headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey, and will be the licensing agent for AT&T Data Systems Group source products: the computer business retains development responsibility for all AT&T software products used on its own systems. Head of the new division Larry Dooling reports to Data Systems Group chief Robert Kavner. But Unix vendors may not be satisfied with the level of independence given to the new division: the Open Software Foundation’s European director said in October that putting Unix into a 100%-owned subsidiary would not be a significant concession as far as Open Foundation members were concerned (CI No 1,046).
