Hello Friends:
 
Duane Percox noted that HP's CSY support funding model needs an
overhaul,saying that "HP support revenue we pay is not really directed to
CSY (except for image/sql) for continued r&d on the core functionality of
MPE/iX."
 
All true. It's interesting to note that HP didn't want to discuss funding
models for its CSY division with us when we asked several months ago. They
consider the information as closely held as the actual numbers on sales and
profits.
 
Duane goes on to suggest adding $50 yearly to each 3000 support contract (a
great idea) to fund basic MPE/iX research. Then he suggests:
 
>If there are 50,000 supported systems then this will generate a
>tidy sum of 2.5 million $$ per year.
 
I would guess, after watching the market for many years, that the supported
number is far less than 50,000. When HP talked about the IMAGE/SQL deal 3
years back, they noted that no more than 75 percent of its installed
systems had any kind of support. To be honest, the number is probably
closer to 60 percent, IMHO.
 
But still, 60 percent of a 50,000 base is $1.4 million, a tidy sum to
invest. MPE could go a long way on it. This idea needs some consideration
at an executive level, but HP needs to believe that its CSY customers want
this to happen. Speak up here, or Ask Dick Watts (at his Web page) to look
it over.
 
Duane's doing his part by creating COBOL-based Web products like an FAQ
Search Engine and a WWW server for MPE. Imagine how much CSY might be able
to do with $1.5 million. All for less than what your company is paying to
subscribe to the Wall Street Journal...
 
Speaking of publications (a self-serving segue)...
 
<PLUG>
BTW, all of the September NewsWire's articles are now posted at our new
Always Online site for paid subscribers like Duane to read. It includes a
Q&A with Glenn Osaka, an HP executive with some control over those funding
models. The Q&A in the Always Online version of the NewsWire contains
Questions and Answers we couldn't squeeze into our print edition (which is
at press now). You need a password and ID to read Always Online:
http://www.3k.com/other/seybold/subscribers/Alonline.html. If you're a
trial subscriber, you can convert to paid with a phone call and credit
card: 512.331.0075.
</PLUG>
 
 
 
Ron Seybold, Editor In Chief
The 3000 NewsWire
Independent Information to Maximize Your HP3000
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512-331-0075