IBM Gets Wide-Ranging Mac OS License
IBM Gets Wide-Ranging Mac OS License — As noted in TidBITS-324, IBM today announced an agreement with Apple allowing it to sell PowerPC processors along with a Mac OS sub-license to any manufacturer. As noted, IBM does not appear to plan to manufacture Mac clones, but instead to sell reference design specs, licenses, and logic components to other manufacturers who will make PowerPC Platform machines. Those manufacturers, in turn, can choose to develop Mac clones and license the Mac OS directly from IBM, without having to enter negotiations with Apple. Datatech (DTK) Enterprises and Tatung are expected to announce plans to sub-license the Mac OS from IBM; other manufacturers have already announced third-party products for the PowerPC platform that would help system manufacturers build Mac OS computers for the PowerPC Platform. Also, rumor has it that IBM plans to drop OS/2 in favor of the Mac OS. [GD]