Computervision Corp so wants to put its sad ownership by Prime Computer Inc behind it that it is remaking itself in the pure computer-aided design software image of the company Prime acquired as quickly as it can. The Prime hardware side is now closed and the company has a letter of intent to pass on what is left of the Prime Information Pick-derived database system to Pick-under-Unix specialist VMark Software Inc, Framingham, Massachusetts on undisclosed terms. The latest iteration is the PI/open Unix version, which was launched by Prime a few months before its effective demise. The proposed agreement also would establish a strategic alliance whereby Computervision will resell VMark products, and its Service Business Unit will provide worldwide support for PI/open and VMark’s uniVerse products. The Service Business Unit is what was originally Prime’s in-house maintenance operation for its 50-series minicomputer users, which now touts for third party maintenance and support business as well as continuing to support the dwindling PrimOS base. The support agreement will have an initial term of five years. PI/Open is object-code compatible with Prime Information which is installed on an estimated 6,000 Prime 50 Series minis and adds SQL support.
