Yet another industry body has been formed, this time to address the Macintosh networking market. Cayman Systems Inc, Cisco Systems Inc, FCR Software Inc, Novell Corp, Shiva Corp, Wellfleet Communications Inc and 3Com Corp have teamed with Apple Computer Inc in the formation of the AppleTalk Networking Forum to define and promote interoperable AppleTalk networking technology. The charter of the new Forum is to originate and implement technology that advances AppleTalk networking and internetworking; to reduce incompatibilities between similar product features from different vendors; and conduct co-operative research as new computer networking opportunities appear. One of the first areas that it intends to address will be methods to extend AppleTalk networks across other networks by encapsulating AppleTalk in other network protocols such as TCP/IP. Members can propose technologies for the group’s consideration, but no member is bound to implement those technologies in its products as a result of the group consensus.
