Computer Firms Unable to Agree on Single Unix System
Merger talks have ended between an AT&T; unit and a consortium of rival computer makers developing a different version of an important computer operating system, the groups said Monday.
The announcement means that two major versions of the Unix operating system will be promoted in the marketplace.
An operating system is the base layer of software that controls such computer functions as operating the keyboard and opening files. It differs from applications programs, which provide such specific uses as word processing or spreadsheets.
The talks were aimed at merging the American Telephone & Telegraph Co. division that develops and sells AT&T;’s version of Unix with the Open Software Foundation, a nonprofit company formed by AT&T; rivals to promote another version of Unix. Also included in the merger would have been Unix International, a group of Unix users set up by AT&T; to advise it on Unix development.
David Tory, president of the Open Software Foundation, said his group entered into the merger discussions with the expectation that a merged organization would not be controlled by AT&T; or any other company.
“However, an agreement on that principle could not be reached,” he said in a statement.
Peter Cunningham, president of Unix International, said AT&T; never proposed giving itself an upper hand in the merged group. Instead, he said, the talks collapsed when Open Software Foundation members couldn’t solve disputes among themselves.
AT&T; developed Unix 21 years ago, but other computer makers later devised incompatible variations of it. That means applications software developed for one version of Unix usually can’t be used on a computer running on another version.
But in announcing that merger talks had broken off, the groups said they had agreed to adhere to a number of industry standards in developing Unix.
Unix is becoming the operating system of choice as computer companies increasingly introduce machines that adhere to industrywide standards.
