Microsoft Corp and the Lotus Development Corp-headed Vendor Independent Messaging group, continued their tussle for dominance in the electronic mail applications programming interface arena last month. A flurry of activity saw Microsoft attend a VIM technology meeting, turn down an offer to join the group and instead turn to the X400 API Association, calling upon it to become arbiter. The prize both parties seek is a standard set of hooks so that application writers can produce mailenabled applications without worrying about the underlying network. In the blue corner (supported by IBM Corp) is the VIM group comprising Lotus, Borland International Inc, Apple Computer Inc and Novell Inc. In the red corner stands Microsoft, wielding MAPI, its Messaging Application Programming Interface which was originally designed for Windows applications, but which Microsoft believes is more widely applicable. Both corners have a number of ring-side supporters. MAPI counts Banyan Systems Inc, Digital Equipment Corp, Compuserve and Softswitch Inc among its followers, as well as, rather confusingly, Novell Inc which continues its shrewd policy of upsetting no-one. It seemed, not so long ago, that the two combatants might call it quits and agree on a common standard, hence Microsoft’s attendance at a VIM meeting. Following this, Gershwin Sidhu, the Apple-based head of the VIM group, wrote to Microsoft issuing a formal invitation to the party.
No thank you
Microsoft said thank you, but no thank you. Instead, last month, Paul Mauritz, senior vice-president in the company’s systems division delivered a presentation to the Electronic Mail Association conference. During his speech he called upon the X400 API Association to broaden its remit from developing APIs solely for X400-based messaging to developing them for multiple environments. Mauritz offered MAPI as a technology but called upon VIM to make its technology available. The X400 Association is to be cast in the role of referee. It has yet to decide whether to accept that heavy mantle, and according to Ed Owens, the group’s chairman, …there has always been a certain amount of interest in widening our work, but despite a teleconference between the executive subcommittee the whole matter is still up in the air. Meanwhile VIM – put on the spot by Microsoft’s move, says that it too, is awaiting XAPIAs decision. But, commented Tim Demsey, Lotus representative to the VIM steering committee if XAPIA accepts the role, we will certainly be in there with our technology. XAPIA should be in the position to make up its mind in a week or so.
