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Buoyant European LAN market
reports USA dominated by DEC and IBM DEC and IBM dominatc the midrange computer industry in the USA (midrangc being a machine with at least a 32-bit central processor). DEC held 22.5 % of the US market in 1986 and IBM had 20.5% (measured in manufacturer revenue US dollars). At present, the midrange is growing more than the mainframe market and possibly more than the PC market. This battle between the leaders in the midrange could spread to larger computers as well, according to a report. The key issue is interconnectivity. IBM continues to push system network architecture (SNA) while DEC is
Buoyant European LAN market At present the UK has a relatively high installed base (30% by value) of local area networks (LANs) in Europe but by 1990 West Germany and France are expected to challenge this position. At the end of 1986 there were 298000 nodes in place in Europe. By 1990 this is expected to quadruple to around 1.4B. Factors which have contributed to the growth in LANs are price reductions in LAN technology, the increasing need for sharing of data, the introduction of further opcrating standards and the fact that LANs help control office cabling costs. A recent report finds that, in general, large corporate sized LANs
vol 29 no 6 july/august 1987
leading the move towards the open offers MS/DOS Vax/VMS services. systems interconnect (OSI) standard. It is not likely that there will be IBM's midrange products are: Sys- complete domination by any company tem/36 and /38, the recent 9370 and in the midrange market in the foreseealso the System/34, Series/l, Sys- able future. The report believes that tem/88 and RT PC. IBM has a pro- DEC will continue to lead, followed blem linking these systems because closely by IBM. Hewlett Packard will they have different operating systems. also be a factor. DEC's products are: Vax/VMS inIBM is taking seriously the midcluding M icroVax, Vaxmate, Vaxclus- range challenge e.g. it has offered ters and Vaxstation. packaged solutions which combine The report believes DEC's leading software programs with services and position is a result of the common support. Its 9370 system announceVMS operating system and high level ments and introduction of System/36 of connectivity. Its third party cooper- and/38 enhancements have also conation strategy has also worked in its tributed. The report believes it will be favour. Although DEC is considered a a challenge for IBM to reduce the technically-oriented computer applic- number of architectures in its midations company, it has consistently range. It is significant that the IBM's aimed at business computing. DEC's Personal System/2 PCs dovetail with knowledge of departmental comput- its midrange implementation. DEC ing came via its PDP-I 1 machine. will need to allay fears about third DEC's answer to SNA was DNA. party participation in its future. (ComDEC offers the All-in-one software puter Technology Research Corp., 180 product, IBM offers PROFS and East Main St, Patchogue, New York DISOSS with qualifications. DEC 11772, USA) [] (51 200 nodes) form the greater part (47%) of Europe's installed base and will grow most rapidly until 1990. In value terms, small LANs (2 2 0 nodes) hold the largest share (40% in 1986) and will continue to maintain this level. West Germany has a low installed base of LANs but corporate businesses are moving away from central mainframe computers towards more distributed processing. Sales of distributed processing systems in West Germany will account for over 25 % of Europe's 1990 shipments. In 1986 they comprised 20%. France has a low share of the LAN market due to the strongly centralized organization of business and government there and lack of support by distributors and dealers for LAN products. The report shows that DEC, 3Corn, Novell (UK) and Ungermann-Bass have particularly strong positions in the European market. (Frost & Sullivan Ltd, Sullivan House, 4 Grosvenor Gardens, London SWI W ODH, UK) []
Greater need for 4GLs information Information on fourth-generation languages (4GLs) and relational database developments are among the information technology (IT) areas of most immediate interest to the UK business and financial community, according to a recent survey. 4GLs were the top priority (52 % of respondents expressed an interest in this area) followed by relational database development (45%). Most respondents to the BIS questionnaire came from banking, finance and business services. Instrument, electrical and electronics manufacturers, and local government organizations also showed considerable interest in 4GLs. (BIS Applied Systems Ltd, 20 Upper Ground, London SEI 9PN, UK) []
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Buoyant European LAN market At present the UK has a relatively high installed base (30% by value) of local area networks (LANs) in Europe but by 1990 West Germany and France are expected to challenge this position. At the end of 1986 there were 298000 nodes in place in Europe. By 1990 this is expected to quadruple to around 1.4B. Factors which have contributed to the growth in LANs are price reductions in LAN technology, the increasing need for sharing of data, the introduction of further opcrating standards and the fact that LANs help control office cabling costs. A recent report finds that, in general, large corporate sized LANs
vol 29 no 6 july/august 1987
leading the move towards the open offers MS/DOS Vax/VMS services. systems interconnect (OSI) standard. It is not likely that there will be IBM's midrange products are: Sys- complete domination by any company tem/36 and /38, the recent 9370 and in the midrange market in the foreseealso the System/34, Series/l, Sys- able future. The report believes that tem/88 and RT PC. IBM has a pro- DEC will continue to lead, followed blem linking these systems because closely by IBM. Hewlett Packard will they have different operating systems. also be a factor. DEC's products are: Vax/VMS inIBM is taking seriously the midcluding M icroVax, Vaxmate, Vaxclus- range challenge e.g. it has offered ters and Vaxstation. packaged solutions which combine The report believes DEC's leading software programs with services and position is a result of the common support. Its 9370 system announceVMS operating system and high level ments and introduction of System/36 of connectivity. Its third party cooper- and/38 enhancements have also conation strategy has also worked in its tributed. The report believes it will be favour. Although DEC is considered a a challenge for IBM to reduce the technically-oriented computer applic- number of architectures in its midations company, it has consistently range. It is significant that the IBM's aimed at business computing. DEC's Personal System/2 PCs dovetail with knowledge of departmental comput- its midrange implementation. DEC ing came via its PDP-I 1 machine. will need to allay fears about third DEC's answer to SNA was DNA. party participation in its future. (ComDEC offers the All-in-one software puter Technology Research Corp., 180 product, IBM offers PROFS and East Main St, Patchogue, New York DISOSS with qualifications. DEC 11772, USA) [] (51 200 nodes) form the greater part (47%) of Europe's installed base and will grow most rapidly until 1990. In value terms, small LANs (2 2 0 nodes) hold the largest share (40% in 1986) and will continue to maintain this level. West Germany has a low installed base of LANs but corporate businesses are moving away from central mainframe computers towards more distributed processing. Sales of distributed processing systems in West Germany will account for over 25 % of Europe's 1990 shipments. In 1986 they comprised 20%. France has a low share of the LAN market due to the strongly centralized organization of business and government there and lack of support by distributors and dealers for LAN products. The report shows that DEC, 3Corn, Novell (UK) and Ungermann-Bass have particularly strong positions in the European market. (Frost & Sullivan Ltd, Sullivan House, 4 Grosvenor Gardens, London SWI W ODH, UK) []
Greater need for 4GLs information Information on fourth-generation languages (4GLs) and relational database developments are among the information technology (IT) areas of most immediate interest to the UK business and financial community, according to a recent survey. 4GLs were the top priority (52 % of respondents expressed an interest in this area) followed by relational database development (45%). Most respondents to the BIS questionnaire came from banking, finance and business services. Instrument, electrical and electronics manufacturers, and local government organizations also showed considerable interest in 4GLs. (BIS Applied Systems Ltd, 20 Upper Ground, London SEI 9PN, UK) []
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