Conference iosg::all-in-1_v30

4275.0. "ALL-IN-1: Rumour time around EMS (all incorrect)" by DUBGEN::REDMOND () Sat Jun 18 1994 16:47

    I don't know how many messages I have received in the last few days
    telling me that ALL-IN-1 was either being sold to Microsoft or that
    Digital is building migration facilities to move ALL-IN-1 users or
    cabinets to EMS.  All of this is absolute rubbish.  It reminds me of
    the 1988 rumour that ALL-IN-1 had been ported to the IBM 370
    architecture. 
    
    I don't know whether the people that push these rumours know what they
    are talking about, nor if they realize that ALL-IN-1 delivers services
    today that EMS will only ever dream about, and that TeamLinks is a much
    more functional PC mail client than MS-Mail V3.2.  In any case it's
    important that we all realize what the current situation is. 
    
    Tony
    
    
                                        Date:     17-Jun-1994 01:36pm BST
                                        From:     Nick Whitty
                                                  WHITTY_N AT A1@RDGENG@REO
                                        Dept:     European Marketing

Subject: ALL-IN-1 press speculation


I thought you should see the attached before it seeps out along the grapevine.
Steve Martin is generating a Corporate statement to clarify the wrong
conclusions reached in the attached article.

As soon as the information is available we will distribute it. Please note
that further confusion may arise at the time of the Microsoft Satellite
broadcast next week. It will feature Gates talking about Information Exchange
which is the new word for EMS. Steve's memo should cover both items.


From:   ISLNDS::MALTZMAN "ALAN 229-7742 PD&M TECHY  13-Jun-1994 0744" 13-JUN-1994 08:03:24.04
Subj:   POSSIBLE BRIDGE BETWEEN ALL-IN-ONE AND MICROSOFT'S EMS

Microsoft and Digital are in talks to provide interoperability tools and a mi-
gration path between Digital's All-in-One office-automation software, which has
an installed base of 5 million, and Microsoft's forthcoming Enterprise Messag-
ing Server. Negotiations are focusing on licensing and a possible sale of some 
of Digital's technology to Microsoft, sources said. An agreement could provide
a bridge between EMS and the legacy systems using Digital's All-In-1 office-
automation application and MailWorks mail software, sources said. All-In-1
and MailWorks run on Digital's VAX-based systems and not on Windows NT. Max 
Mayer, VP of software alliances for Digital, denied that the discussions in-
volve migrating All-In-1 users to EMS, but on how the companies will support 
customers moving to Windows NT mail and messaging. For Digital, the pact could
reduce development and support costs at a time when it is bleeding red ink. 
Microsoft already has pledged that its server applications-including EMS-
will run on Digital's Alpha systems...................................... Alan



============================================================================
SUBJECT:  BRIDGE/ BETWEEN ALL-IN-1, EMS TECHNOLOGY / MICROSOFT, DIGITAL
          EXPLORE E-MAIL LINK
SOURCE:   CMP Publications via First! by INDIVIDUAL, Inc.
DATE:     June 9, 1994
INDEX:    [3]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Computer Reseller News via First! : Boston

  Microsoft Corp. and Digital Equipment Corp. are in talks to provide
interoperability tools and a migration path between Digital's office-
automation software, which has an installed base of 5 million, and
Microsoft's forthcoming Enterprise Messaging Server.

  Negotiations are focusing on licensing and a possible sale of some of
Digital's technology to Microsoft, sources said. An agreement could provide
a bridge between EMS and the legacy systems using Digital's All-In-1 office-
automation application and MailWorks mail software, sources said. All-In-1
and MailWorks run on Digital's VAX-based systems and not on Windows NT.

  The negotiations come as many corporate accounts are anxious to downsize
from Digital's VAX minicomputer-based system to PC LANs. In addition,
Digital and Microsoft have an extensive joint software development pact
centering on NT for Alpha.

  Max Mayer, vice president of software alliances for Digital, denied that
the discussions involve migrating All-In-1 users to EMS. He said the talks
center on how the two companies will support customers who want to move to
Windows NT mail and messaging.

  While not commenting on any negotiations, Microsoft's general manager of
server applications, Tom Evslin, said Microsoft is "exploring all sorts of
ways to leverage our software on their platforms."

  For Digital, such a pact could reduce development and support costs at a
time when it is bleeding red ink, sources said. Last quarter, the company
posted an unexpected $183 million loss. Digital is re-evaluating its
software business after a recent management shake-up in its software group,
sources said.

  Steve Martin, marketing manager with Digital's All-In-1, said the company
is firmly committed to future development of All-In-1. He said a version of
All-In-1 will be released shortly. Furthermore, he said, Digital plans to
deliver a version with X.400 backbone support using Mailbus 400 in 1995.

  Microsoft already has pledged that its server applications-including EMS-
will run on Digital's Alpha systems.

  The current negotiations center on providing software development tools
allowing users to interoperate or more easily move from All-In-1 to EMS,
sources said.

  Observers said the deal would give EMS much-needed credibility in
enterprise environments. EMS is slated to be delivered late this year and is
being positioned against Lotus Development Corp.'s hot-selling Notes.

  All-In-1 has a huge installed base, while Microsoft's ballyhooed EMS has
none "except for beta users," said Eric Arnum, editor of Electronic Mail and
Messaging Systems, a Washington-based newsletter. "Digital's All-In-1 was
very successful in the 1980s, but look at the calendar."

  Microsoft already is working with Digital extensively to ensure
interoperability between the companies' respective product lines. Microsoft
and Digital have collaborated on a MAPI 0 driver so that Microsoft Mail
clients can work with Digital's MailWorks. Digital also has announced its
intention to migrate that driver to MAPI 1 in order to support Microsoft's
universal mail client that will be shipped as part of Chicago.

  Added Bob Guaraldi, president of Valinor Inc., a Manchester, N.H.-based
VAR: "[Digital] owns some pretty nice technology. It would be wonderful for
Microsoft to incorporate that rather than create its own."

  Dennis Schneider, former Windows NT Marketing Manager for Digital and now
president of OnPoint Marketing Inc., Nashua, N.H., said it is likely that
Digital will move some customers to standard Microsoft products to lower
development costs.

  --- By Barbara Darrow & Steven Burke