The company commits to implementing the programming language across its OSs
IBM announced worldwide availability of the new version of its PC operating system OS/2, called OS/2 Warp 4. The operating system features support for Java technology, integration of the component architecture OpenDoc, and IBM’s speech-recognition technology, which allows users to run the computer with voice commands.
IBM officials touted Sun’s Java technology as the key element of the new version of the operating system.
IBM has also struck a deal with Citrix Systems Inc. to support its WinFrame/Enterprise multiuser application server software in an OS/2 environment, according to John W. Thompson, general manager of IBM’s personal software products. This will enable users to access 32-bit applications from a server on the network.
OS/2 Warp 4 will also feature embedded URLs so users can access them from the desk top, along with integrated Lotus Notes mail, Thompson said.
IBM, which recently licensed the Java language, is committed to implementing it across all of its operating systems and optimizing it for the PowerPC processor line, said John Soyring, director of software strategy at IBM.
“AIX version 4.2 will have Java built in, OS/390 [IBM’s mainframe operating system] will support Java and Lotus Notes version 4.5 will include Java,” Soyring said. “In fact future elements of OS/2 will be built on Java.”
Java will allow developers to write an application once, regardless of the platform, said John M. Thompson, senior vice president and group executive of IBM’s software group. All of IBM’s operating systems will be Java-enabled by the end of the year, he said.
IBM’s open strategy is to have middleware everywhere, Thompson said. Middleware will be found in database software, communications software, transaction processing software, application develpment tools, groupware and systems management.
IBM will use Java for future operating systems development despite current shortcomings of the Java language, which include a lack of graphical user interface development tools, back-end database access and security features, IBM officials said. “Java does not connect to object components,” Soyring said.
However, Sun Microsystems has announced enhancements to Java for the fourth quarter this year, which will resolve many of the languages’ shortcomings, Soyring said.
The native OS/2 Warp 4 version of Netscape Communications Corp.’s Navigator will be available over the Internet for free starting in October. There are more than 14 million OS/2 users who will be able to use Navigator, said Bob Lisbonne, vice president of client product marketing at Netscape.
OS/2 is priced at 49 and is available immediately. The German version will be released on November 4.
