IBM To Centralize Desktop Services, Applications, & Data

by , 8:00 AM EDT, May 12th, 2004

Back in the 60's and 70's, the word 'computer' was synonymous with the name 'IBM'; back then, room-filling centralized servers chugged away supporting hundreds, even thousands of workers who used terminals to get their work done. It wasn't pretty, but it worked very well, and there was no such thing as a virus or worm in an IBM mainframe.

Since then, IBM has tried, and ultimately failed, to find a place in the network computing paradigm that is popular today. While it set the standard on which today's PCs are still being built, IBM has all but abandoned the desktop market, yielding to fierce competition from more nimble players like Dell and HP.

But, because the giant is down, it does not mean that it is out of the desktop market. According to a report in ComputerWeekly.com, IBM is preparing to make a renewed assault of the desktop market, at least the software end of it. Using its server know-how, IBM will offer a server based environment that will allow almost any desktop, including Macs and mobile devices, to access applications, such as Microsoft Word, and data. From ComputerWeekly:

BM has announced a software strategy, with accompanying products, designed to circumvent Microsoft's lock on operating systems and productivity applications.

Updates to IBM's client, administration and portal software will allow everything from desktop PCs to smartphones to access the same data - including Microsoft Office data - using standards-based middleware instead of a Microsoft client.

The strategy is similar to the thin-client approach -- championed by Oracle and -- Sun Microsystems, which advocated the use of easily manageable terminals as an alternative to bulky, powerful, complex Windows PCs.

[...]

IBM said the software will be available first for Windows, Linux, Unix and mobile platforms such as the Symbian OS, with a Mac OS X version to follow later this year.

There's more information in the full article at ComputerWeekly.com.

The Mac Observer Spin:

Well now, here's an interesting turn of events. Looks like IBM has taken a page from Apple's playbook: If you can't beat them at their own game, change the rules.

By making what hardware is on the desktop inconsequential, IBM could refocus mountains of IT dollars to their servers, which even today, have enjoyed famed reliability.

IT folks win big because centralization of desktop environments means an easier time of managing that environment, and there is a strong possibility that security could greatly improve.

It interesting how, even in the IT world, things are cyclic; before the PC, everything was server based. If IBM has its way, everything will be server based again.

As for Apple, it's a good thing Steve Jobs decided to make a run for the IT market. The education Apple learns in that arena will be invaluable in the coming years as it grows that portion of its business. If Mr. Jobs is smart, and we know he is, he'll pay special attention to how IBM does in its new push.

IBM middleware challenge to Windows