Vinod,
With all due respect, I suggest that if you look back at history, you will see that Novell has faced competition before, yet continued to be the dominant player in the networking industry. I am confident that you need not worry about Novell's future. The future is extremely bright.
When Microsoft introduced MS-Net (and licensed it to IBM as the IBM PC LAN Program), people suggested that Novell would disappear. In fact it is MS-Net that disppeared.
When Microsoft developed LAN Manager (various flavours apppeared... 3+Open, LAN Server, etc.) people suggested that Novell would disappear. In fact, 3+Open is gone, IDC reports that LAN Manager's market share is 6% or less.
Here we go again. Microsoft delivers a new version of Windows, calls it NT, flips a switch in the registry (1 switch in NT 3.51, 2 switches in NT 4.0), and calls it a NOS. Large amounts of marketing dollars later, and people suggest that Novell will disappear.
I would suggest that Novell's future is extremely bright. Novell has focused on its core business. Novell has delivered new versions of all three power brands (IntranetWare, GroupWise and ManageWise). Novell's major accounts (including yours...) have been purchasing these new products at record pace. We are strenghtening our ties with some of our key industry partners (details to follow...). All of these point to a positive future.
A significant event promises to change the face of networking...the introduction of Java. Now code can be written independent of the OS. Since a Java-based app can run on NetWare, Unix, NT, etc., IS Managers will simply choose the OS that is the fastest, most scalable, most manageable, easiest to administer, and has the loswest cost of ownership. Sounds exactly like NetWare, doesn't it! Java will remove the requirement to run applications on a specific OS, freeing IS to choose the BEST OS. If Java wins, Novell wins.
Novell has been in this position before and emerged as the leader. This is just another point in time where a competitor wants to steal away Novell's massive installed base in order to tap into the revenue stream. If you examine Novell's technology, there is nothing on the market to beat it. Marketing abilities is a whole other discussion...
BTW...I just bought more Novl shares last week.
Regards,
Jeff Vogan
Product Manager
Novell Canada Ltd. |
