The Open Software Foundation, Unix International and X/Open are amongst the latest recruits signed up to help US Unix user group /usr/group with its Strategies for Open Systems study of the US domestic Unix market, being carried out in conjunction with DMR Group Inc of Boston, Massachusetts, plans for which were announced in May (CI No 1,187). Claimed to be the largest ever study, the $1.5m programme will investigate many aspects of open systems, including technology; the growing market; user requirements; customer attitudes; and awareness. It will also examine various issues regarding the planning and implementation of open systems, producing user-oriented tools and models to help organisations evaluate opportunities, select vendors and integrate open systems into a technology architecture. The Open Software Foundation, Unix International and X/Open have each joined, and are encouraging their members to join as well. So far, 20 companies have become charter subscribers to the comprehensive study programme, which should be completed by May 1990.
