The rush to open standards means that after years of dragging its feet and offering support via weird and wonderful and wonderfully expensive kluges, IBM now has to take X25 packetswitching very seriously indeed, so much so that the IBM Information Network has announced that it is planning Network Services support of X25. Services will include management and communication facilities for attaching X25 computers to the network in the US and Canada. X25 hosts will be able to be accessed by 3270 terminals attached to the network, terminals attached to SNA hosts, or by full-screen 3270 terminal emulators attached to the network’s protocol converters. These provide access to X25 applications using the same terminal interface as the one currently used to access applications. X25 also supports access to the Information Network Screenmail Service from X25 processors using X400 Interpersonal Messaging Systems. The new support arrives in September 1990.
