RE: IBM 10year plan for Informix
David, You've probably gotten a dozen e-mails on this topic. Already you have a sock puppet joining the fray. Madison (IBM wonk), Mark T. (Oracle wonk) both have said that neither of their respective companies produce game plans that are more than 5 years out. If the Oracle sales rep did question Informix's viability and indicated that because IBM doesn't produce a longer term vision, that Informix isn't viable, then he's playing a sales game. In solution selling methodology, Oracle is column fodder. That is, your company's first choice is IBM's Informix engine. So they are doing what they can to call in to question or to plant the seed of doubt about your company's choice of using Informix. So Oracle is doing what they can in an effort to move from column B to column A. IBM or your reseller needs to be able to counter the FUD. Two things counter this FUD. 1) IBM has made a continued investment in to their Informix Engine. Combining the 9.x and 7.x engine in to 10.x and evolving it to 11.x So there is a continued investment in to the product. (Its a proven historical fact, no FUD) 2) IBM has a 5 year road map which indicates the continued investment that they plan to make. Beyond 5 years is impossible to predict because of shifts in technology and game changing events. (Sorry we don't have a crystal ball ...) In addition... The architecture of Informix is superior to their competitors in that it can easily adapt and integrate new technologies and game changers. The first is the extensibility that allows for the engine to be customized to specific requirements. (Datablades vs 'DataCartriges'). The next is the fact that IBM's Informix's HA and ER is the industry leader in terms of reliability and ease of implementation. Third is the adoption of enhanced security that allows for greater control over the access of data and auditing who accessed the data. All key points of enhancements and feature set growth that have occured since post acquisition and there are planned enhancements going forward. Here you're taking the 'threat' of FUD and negating it while at the same time further differentiating your product. I could have re-iterated that a key point to Informix is that they are in the best position to adopt and adapt to any game changing events that may limit the competition. This means that you can choose them to meet your current needs and plan on the platform to be viable long after their stated 5 year vision. Subject: IBM 10year plan for Informix Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:37:43 +0200 From: David.Reed@tollink.co.za To: informix-list@iiug.org Dear all Our client is insisting on some official document from IBM stating the 10 year plan / roadmap that they have for Informix. Apparently they got something like that from Oracle, and apparently the Oracle consultants is saying that IBM have no plan for Informix. I need something official, can anybody point me in the correct direction. Kind Regards David Reed _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™ Hotmail®:…more than just e-mail. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_hm_justgotbetter_explore_022009