IBM Delivers On IDS 9.3 Promise

IBM is delivering IDS 9.3 database, as promised, on October 1.

This is the first new Informix product since IBM acquired Informix database business last July, said Jim Kelly, vice president of database management marketing for IBM Software, based here.

The new database adds an advanced spatial analysis tool to enable integrators to create applications with "nearest me functions." This technology will enable location-savvy applications so that a mobile user looking for the nearest gas station or restaurant can get that information from the database via a cell phone or other device.

IBM has also enhanced Web-based administration and enterprise replication, Kelly said.

The company is also working on DB2 Relational Connect to ease integration between IBM's own DB2 database and IDS. This software, due in the fourth quarter, will let integrators develop on DB2 while also supporting existing IDS environments, IBM said. "Application and data repostiories can now seamlessly integrate from DB2 and IDS," Kelly said. Pricing will be disclosed this week.

At a database briefing last August, IBM promised to have a major upgrade of the Informix IDS product out in October and also pledged continued support for the so-called U2 (UniVerse and UniData) databases from Informix.

IDS has the largest installed base by far of the many Informix databases, according to the company. Of the 100,000 Informix customers, 35,000 are IDS users, Kelly said.

Informix also fields Red Brick which is well suited for datamart applications, c-ISAM, Informix SE and other "classic" products and Cloudscape, a Java embedded database, which will likely find its way into the DB2 Everyplace line. Meanwhile, IBM is pushing DB2 as a viable competior to Oracle 8i and 9i in distributed databases. DB2 remains the focus of most of IBM's database push, although the company has repeatedly pledged continued support for the Informix products.

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