21
Sat, Dec
3 New Articles
  1. You are here:  
  2. Home
  3. MORE
  4. Commentary
  5. Analysis of News Events
  6. In the Wheelhouse: Setting Fire to the Rumor Mill

In the Wheelhouse: Setting Fire to the Rumor Mill

Analysis of News Events
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

 

Lots to get straight this week: IBM Connections 4 Beta has been released in the IBM Greenhouse, there are rumors of IBM's interest in buying a part of RIM, and most intriguing, IBM gives an indication of its IBM i install base.

IBM Announces IBM i Install Base...Or Did They?

In the latest IBM i roadmap, Power Systems General Manager Dr. Colin Parris stated the following: "IBM i is the integrated operating environment for IBM Power Systems, which is used by over 150,000 businesses around the world."

 

Is this really that important? Absolutely.

 

For years, the customer install base has been a bit hard to quantify. I've heard many IBMers speculate on total customers and total machines, both of which I won't comment on.

 

While I appreciate Dr. Parris coming forth with this number, I think that I'm one of the first to ask the question: is this number lacking clarity? That depends on your perspective. Perhaps the answer is right in front of us.

 

A couple of questions are raised by this number and the wording around it.

 

1. Does this IBM i install base include customers running Power Systems and System i and iSeries as well?

 

Since IBM i (and to be technically correct, we're only including valid IBM i releases as 5.4, 6.1, and 7.1) runs on Power Systems, System i, and iSeries hardware, there is nothing in the roadmap that gives any clarity to this. There is also no mention of OS/400 on AS/400 or iSeries. This is key.

 

IBM i 5.4 (which was also marketed as V5R4 and i5/OS) can run on both iSeries and System i hardware until September 2013. So what are we talking about here? Just Power Systems?

 

This statement does not specifically include IBM i on System i and iSeries.

 

2. Does this number include only IBM i customers currently paying maintenance to IBM?

 

I would say that IBM can come up with a true number of IBM i customers only by adding up those who are paying for support. I would imagine that IBM can estimate, based on past sales numbers and information from distributers and the Business Partner channel, that there are customers running older systems and are not on any type of maintenance. I personally know of a few shops running older AS/400 Model 170s on OS/400 V5R2, and they'll continue running them until the machines eventually die. Once that happens, they'll hobble for a few weeks and then get a new entry-level Power Systems server. IBM may or may not know the status of accounts like this anymore, but I would lean toward assuming that these shops are not included in this number.

 

Overall what does "150,000 businesses" mean? Based strictly on the language of Dr. Parris' statement, I would say that it's customers with active maintenance contracts with IBM and running IBM i 6.1 and 7.1 on Power Systems only.

 

Some others have taken Dr. Parris' number and emphasized that it's much smaller than what it was many years ago, while not taking into consideration what these current 150,000 customers are comprised of.  

 

Here's the deal: based on publicly available information from IBM, 150,000 IBM i on Power Systems customers are where we are today. Common sense dictates that these customers are on relatively new hardware and active maintenance contracts. Making comparisons and drawing conclusions from past numbers isn't fair or accurate, pure and simple. It's apples and oranges.

 

An independent study from 2011 states that only 4 percent of current IBM i customers are planning to migrate off the platform. We all know how those plans work too: it seems easy to move off the platform until somebody does the math and finds out it would be much more expensive to do so. This potential 4 percent is hardly a mass exodus. It's actually not even a blip on the radar. I could take a positive spin on that statistic and say that 96 percent of IBM i customers have committed to the platform and its future.

 

That same study states some facts about customers running older (AS/400, iSeries, and System i) hardware:

 

  • 37 percent plan on maintaining status quo.
  • 50 percent plan on upgrading within one year or after one year.

 

These customers are not running IBM i 6.1 and 7.1, which takes them out of the equation, and that means Dr. Parris' 150,000 number may increase substantially in 2013 when IBM i 5.4 is no longer supported. I've requested clarification from Dr. Parris on this number and will update you on the response I get.

 

I want to emphasize the continued growth and development of Power Systems and IBM i. IBM has committed to IBM i to at least 2020. IBM PureSystems is also a future path for IBM i. Contrary to what some may say, IBM i is not going anywhere, and its customer base is certainly not bleeding to death.

IBM Is Set to Take a Bite Out of RIM...Or Are They?

While many companies could benefit in various ways from purchasing a piece of Research in Motion (RIM), it seems the rumor mill has decided to throw IBM's name into the mix. While IBM could benefit from this deal, Bloomberg, citing "unnamed sources," has reported IBM has had "informal discussions" with RIM about purchasing its services division.

 

It's worth mentioning only to tell you that it isn't. Rumors are just rumors. All this rumor has done is raise RIM's stock a little bit and give us a little water cooler fodder. Any positive press, even about potential offers that neither IBM or RIM will comment on, is good for RIM because it shows that there may be a light at the end of the tunnel rather than a continual drain circle. With all the negative press in the last couple of years, anything in the media about RIM that isn't negative coverage is a positive for RIM, regardless if it has an inkling of truth. That's it.

 

If any deal comes about with IBM or any other company, then we'll dissect it at that time. I've been saying for many months that IBM has an opportunity to take advantage of the RIM situation, but like everyone else, it's just talk. So for the time being, move along. There's nothing to see here.

IBM Connections 4 Beta Is in the Greenhouse

Last week, IBM Connections 4 Beta went live in the Greenhouse. If you're not familiar with the Greenhouse, you really need to get acquainted with it. The Greenhouse is a Web site that features many IBM technologies that you can take for a test drive. All kinds of solutions are there, such as Lotus iNotes, IBM Quickr, IBM Sametime, IBM Forms, and of course, IBM Connections. You just need to register with a user ID and a password. Making Connections 4 Beta available is great for existing or potential customers who want to check out what the next iteration of Connections has to offer.

 

The best way to start is to sign up, join a Connections Community, and get involved. For example, IBM Champions for IBM Collaboration Solutions use a Greenhouse-based Connections Community as the foundation for all of our communications with each other.

Lenovo Announces ThinkPad 2 Tablet...Even with the "Red Dot"

The red dot is actually on top of the accompanying stylus, but it's still a nice touch. On August 8, Lenovo announced that the ThinkPad 2 will be available at the end of October 2012. The 10.1-inch ThinkPad 2, armed with an Intel Atom processor and running Microsoft Windows 8, is Lenovo's answer to the Microsoft Surface tablet.

 

While the Surface appears geared toward the consumer market, the ThinkPad 2 is aimed strategically toward business customers. That's good news if you're looking to expand your business into the tablet world.

 

There will be good few Windows 8 tablets this fall, but a key feature of the ThinkPad 2 worth mentioning is that the Intel Atom processor will allow existing Windows applications to run on it, as opposed to other Windows 8 tablets using ARM processors.

 

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: