WAIUG Meeting 

September 26th, 2001

IBM's Commitment to Informix Database Users! 

A Special Meeting for the Washington Area Informix User Group

On July 1, 2001, IBM completed the acquisition of Informix Software, the database division of Informix Corporation for $1 billion. As a result of this acquisition, the Informix software products are now a part of the Data Management Solutions Division within IBM's Software Group. 

IBM's Commitment

"IBM is committed to meeting current Informix commitments for new releases, and will continue to enhance these products beyond these commitments to meet Informix customer requirements."

From the IBM White Paper: "Informix Portfolio: Future Directions"

The meeting was pretty well attended. We heard IBM speakers praise the Informix product line and re-affirm their commitment to supporting all Informix products, just as they have been doing their own for many years after the prime, as long as a "business case" could be made. The so-called Arrowhead project, dubbed "Blue Arrowhead" by either a wag or someone speaking seriously, I don't know, will converge on DB2, not any of the Informix products. The Informix products - classics like Online, C-Isam, SE, plus XPS, IDS, RedBrick will continue on their respective development tracks. Cloudscape and IBM's DB2 Everywhere will converge 

Meg Hilbert from Informix, bless her heart, gave a full-blown and toward the end, somewhat accelerated, version of all the Informix products - their support categories and plans for further development.  Generally, Meg says most of the old favorites (the "Classics") are alive and well, thank you, especially 4GL, C-Isam, SE, and Online.

Fred Hubbard, president of the IIUG, gave a brief talk highlighting all the great things the IIUG are doing for the users and their roles as spokesman for the users to IBM. IIUG under Fred has become very active, and activist in the best sense of the word.