Open Group Members' Meeting
June 23-26, 1997
London Metropole Hotel

The Open Group envisages the need for the creation of the IT DialToneTM, a new initiative for a global information infrastructure that is ubiquitous, trusted, reliable and as easy to use as the telephone.

The IT DialTone is described in a white-paper that will be published to all members by the end of May so that you can review it prior to this meeting.

It is proposed to address this through a series of strategic programs, driven through the existing Members' Meetings and "Program Groups" and fully involving Open Group members on both the buy and the supply sides of the IT business. During the meeting we would like to begin the task of aligning the ideas in the IT DialTone strategy with the business requirements of our members - through the Program Groups.

We expect that a series of cross-industry programs will be needed to support the key dimensions of the IT DialTone:

  • Usability
  • Interoperability
  • Security
  • Managability
  • Architecture

Similarly, we will need technology programs such as:

  • DCE
  • Desktop
  • Internet technologies: ActiveX, Java etc.

Most of these programs are already working to plans, each owned by the respective Program Group. We hope you'll agree with this approach and want to help us to shape it and thereby to get it right. For example: do we need Program Groups and technology SIGs? How can they best interact? This meeting is probably the right time to begin resolving these issues.

Meeting Structure

  • A keynote presentation by Open Group President and CEO Joseph De Feo outlining the IT DialTone vision.
  • Associated supporting sessions
  • Report-backs from each Program Group
  • Program Group meetings
  • Quarterly meetings of the Open Group Customer and Software Councils

Why You Should Attend

The IT DialTone will become a key industry initiative driving the future of Open Distributed Computing. You will hear what the IT DialTone is and how The Open Group is planning to evolve its strategy to drive this concept into reality.

You have the chance to influence this strategy by participating in Open Group Members' Meetings and appropriate Program Groups.

In the process you will rub shoulders with customers who are at the leading edge of distributed computing. This is the best way to learn what works and how to deal with the challenges of network-centric computing.

The Program Groups

This is a brief overview of the program group sessions envisioned for London. More details are available via the links from the agenda.

  • Architecture Program Group: The group will progress further this year's work program, which will deliver a revised Open Group Architectural Framework in December 1997.
  • DCE Program Group: Requirements document "RFC 95" (for DCE/Next) has defined the open systems community's key requirements for distributed computing. The group will discuss what is being done to turn these requirements into source code deliverables.
  • Desktop Program Group: The group is concentrating on building a coherent picture of the open systems user's desktop. The London meeting will address the fact and fiction of security in Java and ActiveX.
  • Distributed Systems Management Program Group: At a time when Applications Management is a critical issue for members the group is focusing on the need for standards-based management products as a major factor in driving down the overall cost of IT ownership. The main thrust of the DSM Program Group in London will be on developing the foundations and setting goals and priorities for the next year.
  • Information Superhighway Program Group: The group will develop a better understanding of the Internet as it is today, including security issues around ActiveX and Java.
  • Interoperability Program Group: Providing interoperability is a key objective of The Open Group and cuts across the work of all Program Groups. With this in mind, the Interoperability Program Group is developing a new charter to better integrate all related activities.
  • Security Program Group: The Security Program Group will continue to shape a customer driven multi-vendor infrastructure for solving the practical problems of security management within enterprises and secure interworking between enterprises. Key focus areas are Public Key Infrastructure and Single Sign-On. There will also be updates on the latest developments in the industry, including implementing the OECD cryptographic guidelines

Please Register As Soon As Possible

Registration for the June meeting is now open. Please register as soon as you can as June is high season in London and hotels fill early. The "regular attendees" registration form will be quicker in most cases. (The "first time" form is useful if you have forgotten your password.)

Please use the web form if you can - otherwise please request a form by contacting Meredith Carlson

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