The Idea arm of Ide Corp of Billerica, Massachusetts has brought IBM Corp AS/400s and System 36s closer together with personal computers running Microsoft Corp Windows 3.0 with the launch of Ideacomm 5251 for Windows, which provides personal computer users with emulation and file transfer facility to IBM mid-range hosts from Windows 3.0. The product is compatible with Idea’s 5251 communications board, and also includes the Idealink for Windows file transfer program, claimed to be the first Windows 3.0 file transfer program that doesn’t require users to step back down to MS-DOS. It includes an automated file transfer capability, record selection criteria feature, and takes advantage of Window’s graphical user interface. It does not need IBM’s costly and memory-intensive PC Support/400 application in order to communicate with the AS/400 and will be available in September at $400. Current users of Ideacomm 5251/Plus or Ideacomm 5251/OS hardware and software can buy a software-only upgrade to Ideacomm 5251 for Windows.
