IIUG Insider (Issue #42)
12 December 2003
Other Issues
Highlights: Board Elections Update, Passport Advantage, Ed Card News & More...
Welcome to the International Informix Users Group (IIUG) Insider! Designed for IIUG members and Informix user group leaders, this publication contains timely and relevant information for the IBM Informix community.
Contents:
- Update - Election of 2004 IIUG Board of Directors
- New Passport Advantage Newsletter Available
- IIUG Webcast Replay: Java Development for IDS Users
- IBM developerWorks Toolbox - Informix for the Developer
- IBM Education Card/Packs/Pass Now Include Most Informix Training
- Useful Links
- Closing and Credits
Update - Election of 2004 IIUG Board of Directors
The election for the 2004 IIUG Board Of Directors has been taking place on our website since 24 November 2003 and the polls will close on 12 December 2003. So far, more than 300 members have voted!
We encourage you to vote as every single vote is important for all of us at IIUG. In order to vote, you need your IIUG membership number, which is normally included in e-mail correspondence (such as the Insider) you receive from IIUG, including this issue of the IIUG Insider.
To vote, please visit the following URL: http://www.iiug.org/iiug/election/2004ballot.html.
The ballot page includes the list of candidates and their election addresses. At the bottom of the page, you will see the vote box which includes Yes, No and Abstain options.
Candidates include four incumbent nominees and six new board nominees. They come from around the world, including Israel, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and France, which would make the best non-US representation we've had in the last several years!
IIUG has developed a brand new process and web pages for this year's election. The Nominating Committee, which consists of three non-returning IIUG Board members (James Edmiston, Jerry Hamilton, and Hal Maner), is closely involved in the elections process, conducting daily audits. Individual votes will remain confidential and potential conflicts of interest have been addressed in order to encourage broad voting participation.
New Passport Advantage Newsletter Available
In response to input from IIUG, IBM has created a new Passport Advantage Newsletter, which is now available at http://www.iiug.org/news/newsitems/17nov03_passportadvantage.html.
The purpose of this newsletter is to assist both end user customers and business partners become familiar with IBM's Passport Advantage and Passport Advantage Express Programs. In addition, this document serves as a reference to learn more about the tools available to customers and resellers.
Passport Advantage is IBM's licensing program by which a customer may acquire licenses, software maintenance and maintenance after license for all IBM open platform software brands, including Tivoli, Lotus, WebSphere, DB2 and Rational in the near future. A high priority for IBM has been to ensure that IBM Informix customers and Business Partners have the ability to leverage the same programs and receive the same benefits as other IBM customers and Business Partners.
IIUG Webcast Replay: Java Development for IDS Users
IIUG's webcast titled "Java Development for IDS Users" took place on Wednesday, 03 December, having hosted 40 participants. Arlan Finestead and Fred Summa of IBM's IDS development team in Lenexa, Kansas, presented and fielded questions. Mohan Natraj, as the IIUG board's representative did the introductions.
The webcast was recorded and has been archived for playback as follows:
For the web-component, please visit http://www.placeware.com/cc/informix. Enter your name and include the Meeting ID (Java IDS) and the Meeting key (030768) to begin the replay.
The audio replay phone numbers are as follows:
For those among us with an interest in development software downloads and not just what's available freely via IIUG, this may be the best news in a long while. IBM has now included the Informix portfolio in its developerWorks Toolbox subscription. Mind you, this isn't free, but it offers a whole lot of content. Here it is: http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/subscription/newto/.
Just in case you are not currently connected to the Web, this is how IBM describes "The Toolbox":
"The Toolbox subscription provides one-stop access to a comprehensive portfolio of the latest IBM software, giving you the products and technologies needed to develop, test, demonstrate and evaluate applications. If you are a developer, for example an Eclipse, Java, or professional J2EE developer, or perhaps a lead architect who needs access to the latest software, the Toolbox subscription has a level to meet your needs. This 12-month subscription provides easy access, continuous updates, and the flexibility of a "portal-like" integration of best-of-breed tools from DB2, Lotus, Rational, Tivoli, and WebSphere, allowing you to maximize ROI and lower your labor costs, leading to superior productivity."
Pricing starts at $399.00 USD for the "Starter Level", climbing to $3349.00 USD for the "Enterprise Level", which is the only level to include IDS v9.4 and XPS v8.4. 4GL, C/ISAM, SE and OnLine are available in the "Professional Level". A technical support option is also available for only $125.00 USD regardless of subscription level.
Check out IBM's developerWorks Toolbox and let ENews know what you think by writing to enews@iiug.org.
IIUG was informed by IBM that its Education Advantage Program (EAP), which includes three products, the IBM Education Card, the IBM Education Pack, and the IBM Corporate Education Pass now includes the vast majority of Informix courses.
With a few exceptions, the courses listed under "all courses" are covered by all of the EAP products. The exceptions are UD210 which is only covered by the IBM Education Pack, and L1841 which is only covered by the IBM Corporate Education Pass.
The courses that are eligible for the EAP products do occasionally change. Eligibility is listed in each course description. A healthy recommendation to all interested parties is that they verify the eligibility of the courses they are interested in taking before purchasing a specific product.
The above information is for the U.S. EAP products. Similar offerings are available worldwide; however the terms and conditions vary by country.
In response to your input, we have created a new page on the IIUG web site
containing all the links we used to include. Please find it at:
The International Informix Users Group (IIUG) is an organization designed to enhance communications between its worldwide user community and IBM. IIUG's membership database now exceeds 18,000 entries and enjoys the support and commitment of IBM's Data Management division. Key programs include local user groups and special interest groups, which we promote and assist from launch through growth.
