IBM launches offensive with cross-platform NC

IBM will outline its plans for a network computer (NC) at next week's Comdex. The company's device will span all available platforms. Machines will begin to arrive in volume next year.

The NCs will be aimed at business, consumer and embedded processor markets. The software component will be based on the latest version of OS/2 but will use the IBM browser to access all platforms.

David McAughtry becomes head of the NC division for the Europe, Middle East and Africa group after working on feasibility plans at IBM's research facilities in Hursley this year.

Phillip Carnelly, a senior analyst at research company Ovum, said: 'The low hanging fruit are people with IBM dumb terminals. There is an argument for putting PCs on instead, IBM's got a strong argument for people upgrading.'

A source at IBM UK said: 'The machines will work across all platforms including the S/390, RS/6000s, AS/400s and PCs. They will become generally available next year. This is a uniform NC which will run across all platforms and there will be a consumer demonstration at Comdex by IBM.'

Carnelly said a graphical front end will work well on 3270 and 5270 applications, and already works on PCs. 'There may be as many as 50 million potential buyers of an NC sceptical about whether they need PCs,' he said.

'The NC will be able to run Java, and there's an easy answer for corporate users to their problems.'

The big question is whether Microsoft and Intel will allow IBM to snatch this market, Carnelly added. 'IBM has got to get its act together and do it fast. This is what Sun Microsystems has been saying all along.'