IBM updates OS/2 for the NC in bid to counter NT's growth

IBM is repositioning OS/2 as an NC operating system, with a planned roll-out of new versions, including a 'very thin client', during the next year.

Donn Atkins, IBM's marketing vice president for desktop software, said the move had come about because of customer demand.

Despite the relaunch of the operating system as OS/2 Warp in 1995, IBM's flagship desktop product has continued to lose ground to Windows 95 and NT.

But despite rumours of an early death, OS/2 continues to elicit support from the financial sector and from some countries such as Germany.

IBM, Oracle and Sun Microsystems have taken a lead in drumming up support for the NC. Atkins denied that claims of customer support for the NC concept were wishful thinking, although he would not reveal which customers were demanding it. The NC is a 'strategy supported by a lot of the industry', he said.

These claims were backed by OS/2's brand manager Nick Davis, who said he had seen 'a lot of support' for the NC. Atkins said IBM would focus all its OS/2 applications efforts on Java. To enhance its appeal as a server operating system there is extended client support for Windows 95 and NT, he said.

The Windows 95 version is available now, while the NT version is in beta tests. The enhancements will give better administration and increased security for Windows clients.

For the first time, the latest releases of OS/2 will recognise the Network Neighbourhood function in Windows, allowing users to view the OS/2 Server and components.

Atkins said IBM will probably build a new version of OS/2 for a very thin client. However, he was unable to specify how thin a client the notoriously memory-hungry OS/2 could fit into.

IBM is expected to launch various versions of an NC later this year.