Management consultants Peat Marwick McLintock, KPMG, has unveiled the results of its 18-month business network joint development with DEC, launching its Integrated Consultancy Office Network, ICON. KPMG has a UKP2m system based on VAXes and DEC’s All-In-1 office software; it felt that the network from DEC, whose share in the venture was worth around UKP1m, featured a greater adherence to Open Systems standards than that of its major rival, Wang Laboratories. ICON integrates products from 17 suppliers in a personal computer-based DECnet system; it runs All-in-1 software across VAXes in five London offices. Dell Computer Corp secured a UKP500,000 deal for around 250 of its System 200s: Hewlett Packard printers and Toshiba portable personal computers are also included. The network provides office systems tools, access to central data bases and communications links between partners and staff in and out of the office; the consultancy believes major benefits will lie in improved reports, particulary graphics capabilities. ICON will shortly be expanded to serve 650 users in three additional regional sites; KPMG then wants to extend ICON into continental Europe, add remote access to the network, and add features such as facsimile. KPMG’s Information Technology Division is to implement similar systems for clients.
