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March 25, 1997 Announcements

Wal-Mart Stocks OS/2 Software.

Wal-Mart, the giant U.S. retail firm (just added to the Dow Jones 30 Industrial Average of U.S. stocks), offers popular OS/2 Warp software titles through its online store, including IBM OS/2 Warp Version 4, OS/2 Warp Server, FaxWorks Pro for OS/2, and more.

To visit the OS/2 Warp online store at Wal-Mart, point your Netscape for OS/2 Warp browser to http://wal-mart.com. Click on "Computer Items," then click on "OS/2 Software."
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Host On-Demand for Communications Server for OS/2 Warp Announced.

IBM has announced Host On-Demand for Communications Server for OS/2 Warp. Full details are available on the Internet at http://www.networking.ibm.com/hex/hexprod_en.html (and a copy of this page is provided, below, although you should visit this page to access the links).

What does Host On-Demand do? You can now embed direct access to your mainframe inside a web page, or access the mainframe from any Java-based system (such as OS/2 Warp 4, Netscape, or the IBM Network Station). There's no need to rewrite mainframe-based applications, and you can provide the level of access you need to these applications in an attractive, Web-based manner. This access can be provided to internal mainframe users (inside a company) or even to the public (through the Internet) for secure access to inventory, database, and other mainframe applications.

You can download Host On-Demand today and run it on the new Communications Server for OS/2 Warp on even a modest PC server. Details are provided below.

About IBM Host On-Demand

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., February 25, 1997. . Continuing to advance its strategy of providing network computing solutions, IBM today announced the general availability for Host On-Demand, designed to provide fast and easy access to host information from Intranets and the Internet.

IBM Host On-Demand is a Java-based solution that incorporates industry-standard Telnet 3270 (TN3270) protocols. It provides a high-performance, low-cost solution for Intranet and web users who need occasional access to their central computer applications or databases from any Java-enabled end-user platform. The value of centralized host information is maximized by extending access to many more users.

Access is as simple as pointing and clicking on an SNA application hot link from within the user's Java-enabled web browser. No customer programming or additional hardware is required.

Host On-Demand boasts a number of powerful features and benefits, such as:

* Emulator functions on demand
* Java-based implementation
* Customized 3270 windows
* Multiple sessions
* Persistent connections
* Platform flexibility
* Security
* Investment protection
IBM Host On-Demand is now available at no additional charge as an added function for customers to use with IBM Communications Server for OS/2 Warp Version 4 Release 1, IBM Communications Server for AIX Version 4 Release 2 or NetWare for SAA Version 2 Release 2. IBM will also make Host On-Demand available for the IBM S/390 platform later this year, as well as the IBM Communications Server for Windows NT (now in beta test) when it becomes available.

Want more? Check out the Host On-Demand press release, our white paper, or download Host On-Demand.

Questions? Check out our frequently asked questions.

Title: Networking - IBM Host On-Demand -
URL: http://www.networking.ibm.com/hex/hexprod_en.html
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Announcing LYRIS.

Announcing LYRIS: The Next Generation of Internet Email Lists

Walter Shelby Group has released what is being hailed as the "next generation" Internet email list server.

Lyris Email List Server is a program for running email mailing lists on the Internet. A mailing list is a group of people who receive electronic mail as a group. These lists are frequently used for making announcements, having open discussions, moderating forums, auto-responders, and more.

Overview

What makes Lyris innovative is its simplicity of use, especially through its web interface and automatic error-mail handling. For years the major complaint about email list servers has been the difficulty of running and administering lists. Lyris approaches all of these tasks differently, with the user in mind. John Buckman, a senior developer at Walter Shelby Group, explains, "There is no reason everyone running a list should have to become a technical expert in the intricacies of email. That's what a good program should do for you. We designed Lyris for anyone to use." While Lyris provides ease-of-use for the novice, it also offers a wide range of powerful tools for experienced and/or technical users such as database customization.

Features

Everything you can do with Lyris, you can do with your web browser using Lyris' extensive World-Wide-Web interface. Members can choose to receive messages by email, or read them on the web.

Lyris is secure: all administrative functions are password protected. Different security roles (list admin, site admin, server admin) to allow you to delegate rights and responsibilities. Also, members can password-protect their accounts.

Lyris has an extremely fast built-in mail engine that can deliver hundreds of messages per minute. The built-in ultra-high-performance database engine provides thousands of transactions per second.

Lyris' C++ based multi-threaded design was built with performance as the top priority. One of Lyris' strengths is automatic email error detection; members and administrators are completely protected from "error mail". A built in mailer provides unprecedented error detection.

Every message to a mailing list is saved and indexed in the mailing list archives and can be quickly text searched.

The Lyris web interface works with all web browsers. All files are fully cross platform and all features are available on all supported platforms. Lyris supports all major email command syntaxes (eg: subscribing & unsubscribing) so that your users do not have to learn new commands. Lyris accepts list server email at all the major email addresses.

Lyris is currently available for OS/2, Windows 95 and Windows NT. Other platforms such as Solaris, Macintosh, Be, Irix and Linux will be available soon.

Complete information is available at the Lyris Home Page, located at: http://www.lyris.com/.

The Walter Shelby Group home page is located at http://www.shelby.com.
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PMMail 1.91 Now Available.

PMMail 1.91 is now generally available on SouthSoft's PMMail homepage. On the page you'll see a full distribution and an upgrade. The upgrade contains the PMMail and PMMSend executables as well as the new helpfile. This upgrade is meant for current 1.9 users. Just copy the files in the zipfile into your current PMMail directory.

This release is mostly a stability release. As we, at SouthSoft, get into the end of PMINews development, we will need to put a lot of time into that product. As a result we wanted to focus on making PMMail rock solid, instead of throwing in more features which could mean more bugs.

For information about what bugs were fixed, you can check out http://www.southsoft.com/pmminfo.html.
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Tech Suppt for Warp 3 Explained.

I've received several questions about technical support for OS/2 Warp Version 3, so I'd like to summarize the answers in this notice.

Whenever IBM releases a new version of any PC software, there's a "service period" listed up front. That period is the minimum amount of time that particular version will have IBM services available (including standard contracts for IBM Software Support by telephone). We list these "end of service" periods on the Internet, among other places, at http://ps.software.ibm.com (the IBM Software Support homepage). All software vendors discontinue support for older versions at some point -- we just happen to be up front about it so you have better information.

Service periods can (and often are) extended, and telephone support is often available for products that are out of their service life (for an extra fee), but you can use the dates provided to help plan version upgrades so that you don't go without the option of IBM Software Support. Also, IBM releases new versions well within the service period of previous version(s), so you have plenty of time to upgrade. IBM does NOT discontinue support for previous releases the same day a new release is available.

OS/2 Warp Version 3 (including OS/2 Warp Connect Version 3) is approaching its published end-of-service life (September, 1997). What does that mean? Quite simply, it means that buying a contract for IBM technical support for OS/2 Warp Version 3 will get much more expensive starting about October 1, 1997, barring any extension. (If your support contract specifically extends beyond this date already, please disregard.) It does NOT mean that IBM will stop making available Service Packs and other fixes for OS/2 Warp Version 3 through its web site (http://ps.software.ibm.com). However, it is likely that new fixes will not be developed, that new releases of software (such as Netscape Version 4 for OS/2 Warp) will not operate on OS/2 Warp Version 3, and that new IBM PCs (ThinkPads and desktops) will not be specifically tested and certified with OS/2 Warp Version 3.

So, consider this notice a polite reminder and a gentle warning. Now's the time to plan for OS/2 Warp Version 4 (and OS/2 Warp Server Version 4). And if you're still two versions back (OS/2 Version 2.1x or earlier), consider this a double warning!

What can you do to make an upgrade go as smoothly (and inexpensively) as possible? Here are some suggestions:

1. Sign up for IBM Software Support (by telephone). There's a "Service and Support" card in the OS/2 Warp Version 4 package. Ask about IBM telephone technical support (and the price), so that you'll have help when you need it. The price varies depending on the number of IBM software products you'd like to cover, how many people get to call IBM Software Support, whether you need support during business hours or 24 hours per day, and whether you'd like "per incident" or unlimited telephone support.

2. If you are getting several copies of OS/2 Warp 4 (and perhaps other IBM software titles), ask your IBM software dealer about the IBM Software Advantage program. Software Advantage provides discounts when you purchase $20,000 (or more) worth of IBM-brand PC software. If you personally don't purchase that much, you might still be able to get together with other departments at your university, company, or other organization to qualify for the discounts. (These discounts are above and beyond those normally found when purchasing single copies through most resellers.)

3. If you do sign up for Software Advantage, you can also sign up for the Upgrade Protection Option. Would you like every new version of OS/2 Warp, including planned interim feature enhancements like Java 1.1, for the next two years, for less than the price of a single upgrade? Or any other IBM-brand software product (excluding Lotus and Tivoli)? Then ask about Upgrade Protection so you won't have to worry about service periods. As long as you have Upgrade Protection, you'll always get the latest versions.

4. Collect all the FixPacks and other information you need on the new version BEFORE you start rolling out OS/2 Warp 4. For example, FixPack 1 (required for Lotus Smartsuite 96 for OS/2 Warp) and TCP/IP Version 4 fixes are available at the IBM Software Support homepage. If you have MWave (such as on IBM ThinkPads) you'll need APAR JR09494, an updated MWAVEVDD.SYS file. You may also need certain device drivers. These may be found on the Device Driver CD that comes with OS/2 Warp 4, and updated drivers may be available through the Internet web links from this CD.

5. Get the technical manuals you need. You can find descriptions of IBM "redbooks" (technical manuals) on the Internet at http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks.

6. If you do experience problems installing or using OS/2 Warp 4, report the problem as quickly as possible through IBM Software Support (mentioned above). The sooner you report the problem, the sooner a suggestion (or fix) can be offered. That way you won't delay any roll out unnecessarily.

7. If you're affiliated with a university, college, or other educational institution (U.S. only), stop by Indelible Blue (http://www.indelible-blue.com/ib) to check on academic pricing for OS/2 Warp 4.
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