>>NEC has a LICENSE to make and market the USB version of Vapor!. But it will not be built into ANYTHING. No OEM in this case, sorry.<<
Elaine -
Unfortunately, on this thread and many others, the term is often misused. The initials stand for Original Equipment Manufacturer. When one company manufactures a product which is then sold by another, under the second company's brand name, the first company is referred to as the OEM. The agreement by the second company to do this is called an OEM agreement.
When Iomega sells Zip drives to Dell, say, for installation in Dell computers, that isn't really an OEM arrangement in the original definition of the term, since the Zip drive still bears the Iomega brand. IBM is one of the few companies which actually has an OEM agreement with Iomega. They sell computers with Zip drives which are IBM branded, even though Iomega makes the drives.
NEC has signed a licensing agreement to manufacture USB Clik! drives. That isn't an OEM agreement, since NEC will make the drives themselves. How is the distinction actually important?
What's important is that this is more than just a statement of support for Clik! by NEC. They're putting up the hard earned, which is something you keep saying no company will do or has done for Clik! In fact, NEC's decision to invest in manufacturing facilities for Clik! is a greater indication of commitment than merely buying the drives and reselling them.
There is no point in being childish about it, Elaine. Zip was introduced as an add-on product first, and was built into products later. That's how it will be for Clik! no matter how many times you post your predictions to the contrary.
- Allen |
