Conference 7.286::digital

Greetings!

  It depends on what you mean by "customer".  I used to work in the AMC out in
Northern California, but as an organization (there were 10 or so worldwide),
it ceased to exist back in late spring '94.  Out of the ashes arose the "Busi-
ness Partners Developers Association" (i.e. "BPDA"), then it too ceased to exist
as such and was transformed into the "ISV <mumble>" (i.e. "ISVETS"), before it 
was transformed into the "Software Partner Engineering Group" (i.e. "SPEG" - my 
current group).

  The "SPEG" group (I know, it's redundant ;)...) is structured to support 
business partners defined in three basic ways as I understand it:

	- "Strategic Partners" (very few, large resources dedicated over the
	   long haul (i.e. Oracle, Sybase, Informix, etc.)
	  Contact: Vehbi Tasar (SPEG center manager at DTN: 543-3554)
	  NOTE: Vehbi's group (in Palo Alto is focused on the "Big 3" database
	  vendors)

	- "Targetted Partners" (a hundred or so, less resources dedicated over
	  a few months typically)
	  Contact: Ed Moehlenpah (works for Vehbi, DTN: 543-3506)

	- "Broadbase" (many hundreds, this is the traditional "ISV" now sup-
	  ported (primarily via the "ASAP" program - see recent announcements
	  and/or press releases) or try the following URL:
	  http://www-swdev.mro.dec.com/www-swdev/pages/Home/AXP-developers.html 
	  Contact: Mike Greenfield (Vehbi's counterpart (?) on the East Coast,
	  (I believe Mike's group is more focused on the "Targetted Partners"
	  and "Broadbase" customers).  As an alternate, contact Mark Schafer,
	  he's very knowledgeable about the "big picture" and can point you in
	  the right direction).

  If your "customer" is an "end-user" (versus a true software "developer") you
might be better off contacting someone in "consulting services" or "system in-
tegration" - I know in the past those groups have done migration work for a fee
on a particular customer wishing to move to Alpha.  You might contact Val Patel
(DTN: 297-2133 - ABU/APA & Corporate Programs Mgr).  I used to work for Val in
the organization that immediately "replaced" the AMC's (called "BPDA") and he
might very helpful in getting you pointed in the right direction, cheers...

						Tony Swierkowski
						SPEG (in Palo Alto)
						(415) 617-3601
						"[email protected]"

    Hi Tony, I saw the note and the phrase "(not ISVs)" certainly caught my
    eye.  If the customer sells a software application in the commercial
    market, they certainly are an ISV and may qualify for membership in the
    Digital Association of Software and Application Partners.  If it looks
    like a fit, please encourage them to call 800-332-4786, press #5 to join.
    
    More info can be found on our World Wide Web pages at URL
    http://www-usa.partner.digital.com/www-swdev/
    
    Mark

    It would seem that the Corporate Installed Base Initiative Program
    for VAX to Alpha customer migrations is the place to go for help.
    Contact Wally Cole, the Initiative Manager in PKO.
    
    MArk
    

    Digital SI will provide that type of migration services for a fee.
    The SI manager in the Central Area is Ed Daihl @DVO  DTN 553-3263
    
    Regards
    

    Re .1 & .2, sorry what's the difference between these two ASAP homepages:

	http://www-swdev.mro.dec.com/www-swdev/pages/Home/AXP-developers.html 
	http://www-usa.partner.digital.com/www-swdev/

    They seem to be covering similar information about one and the same
    organization (ie ASAP), but their contents are different.  Which one
    should i send my vendor contacts?

    If they are indeed different, why two homepages?

    If they are the same, why is the duplication of efforts and resources?

    --svb

re Note 4202.5 by DECWET::VOBA:

>     Re .1 & .2, sorry what's the difference between these two ASAP homepages:
> 
> 	http://www-swdev.mro.dec.com/www-swdev/pages/Home/AXP-developers.html 
> 	http://www-usa.partner.digital.com/www-swdev/
> 
>     They seem to be covering similar information about one and the same
>     organization (ie ASAP), but their contents are different.  Which one
>     should i send my vendor contacts?
> 
>     If they are indeed different, why two homepages?
  
        Well, the latter (the one with a digital.com domain) is
        external, apparently visible to all on the Web.  The first
        one is accessible inside Digital only.

        Bob

Re .-1, thanks for the clarification.

--svb