Allen - I wasn't trying to imply anything. I was just responding
to your comment about your friend mentioning IBM and embedded. You
made it sound as if it was surprising.
Here's an news release IBM made today:
Embedded Systems Business Unit Announced
January 7, 1997
A new IBM operating unit, the Embedded Systems Business Unit (ESBU), was announced today by Robert M. Stephenson, senior vice president and group executive, Personal Systems Group. The new unit will be headquartered in Yamato, Japan, where Asia Pacific Technical Operations (APTO) has its main research and development resources and facilities.
The missions of the ESBU are to:
-- Develop hardware and software component technologies and subsystems to be embedded in various types of non-IT equipment.
-- Develop enabling server middleware components that communicate with and provide complementary proxy functions to the attached non-IT
equipment.
-- Deliver embedded and server products to equipment manufacturers and software vendors through OEM marketing channels.
-- Deliver the products to system integrators and service providers
through OEM channels
ESBU will work closely with IBM's Industry Solution Units in development and marketing, and will use IBM Microelectronics Division component products as preferred technologies for embedded platform development.
"Recent advances in digital and networking technologies are expanding the use of non-IT office equipment, consumer equipment, and hand-held mobile equipment into new applications linked to IT systems." said Kiyoji Ishida, general manager, APTO, IBM Japan. "Thus, the growing demand for enabling digital technologies -- embedded hardware and software -- is expected to generate a very high-growth business opportunity. Our objective is to assemble a team of talented individuals already existing at APTO to drive IBM's leadership in embedded systems." |
