Competition pushes computer rivals to form unlikely, uneasy alliances

Article Abstract:

Increased competition in the computer and computer software industries forces some companies to form alliances with their competitors. The trend to form alliances revolves around industry attempts to standardize product lines in what some industry observers believe is a peaked personal computing market. Analysts are particularly amazed at the recent alliance between HP and Sun Microsystems Inc, competing makers of workstations that are still codeveloping standards. Apple, which is usually an isolationist company, hints that it may allow some Japanese companies to make clones of its computers. Industry observers note that as the market saturates, companies will need to make products that are compatible with their competitors' machines. Cooperation between vendors should benefit users by improving data sharing between various software packages and hardware platforms.

Technological forecasting, Trends, Strategic Planning, Market Analysis, Competition, Computer Industry, Future of Computing, Cooperation

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IBM launches 'Fireworks' unit to form joint ventures for multimedia projects

Article Abstract:

IBM launches Fireworks Partners, an internal unit that will spend tens of millions of dollars on joint projects developing multimedia products and services with outside companies. IBM plans to announce the new unit's first development pact by the end of Feb 1993. Fireworks Partners will also take over IBM's Kaleida Labs joint venture with Apple and its NBC Desktop News alliance with NuMedia Corp and General Electric Corp's NBC unit. Michael Braun and Bob Carberry will run Fireworks; they will report to Jim Cannavino, the senior vice president in charge of the Personal Systems unit.

Commercial physical research, International Business Machines Corp., IBM, Investments, Product development, Multimedia technology, Multimedia systems, Organization Structure, Cooperative Agreements, Kaleida Inc., Carberry, Bob, Braun, Michael

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