UNIX International, Open Software Foundation and AT&T/UNIX Software Operation reach agreements; formal discussions concluded

Business Wire

April 9,1990

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- UNIX International (UI), the Open Software Foundation (OSF) and AT&T's UNIX Software Operation (USO) said Monday that formal discussions, which began last November to expand technical collaboration and discuss possible modifications to organizational structures have been concluded.

These discussions resolved a number of issues, providing the opportunity for increased collaboration for the benefit of computer customers worldwide.

The organizations said in a joint statement: ``These discussions have advanced the cause of open systems in many tangible ways and we are confident that computer users throughout the world will benefit.''

UI and OSF further determined that a full organizational merger involving USO could not be practically achieved at this time. The groups also said that they will continue informal discussions intended to find areas for increased cooperation to build on the progress achieved.

Significant areas in which technical progress has been made include: o Agreement to a number of standards such as POSIX 1003.1, XPG3, ANSI X3J11 C, and X11; o Agreement to support the X/Open process for indentifying future open-systems requirements; o Agreement to collaborate on common verification technologies aimed at ensuring compatibility; and o Agreement to discuss emerging technologies such as multi- processing and internationalization, as appropriate, in order to seek common ground.

The Open Software Foundation is an international, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the development and delivery of an open, portable software environment. UNIX International is an international not-for-profit organization that provides guidance and industry direction for the technical development and commerical policies of UNIX System V.

The UNIX Software Operation is a business unit of AT&T responsible for the development of, and extensisons to, the UNIX System V operating system.

UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T in the U.S. and other countries.

CONTACT: Eileen Coons Dick Muldoon Open Software Foundation AT&T UNIX Software Operation 617/621-8754 (office) 201/829-7212 (office) 617/229-1835 (home) 201/635-6699 (home) Stephen Payne UNIX International 201/263-8400 (office) 914/634-7854 (home)