From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!utah-cs!sask!hssg40!peachey
Newsgroups: net.unix-wizards
Title: UNIX System V Release
Article-I.D.: hssg40.234
Posted: Thu Nov 25 08:14:52 1982
Received: Fri Nov 26 05:18:46 1982

I thought that we should share with the UNIX community some
information just received from AT&T.  As if UNIX System III were not
problem enough, AT&T is apparently planning to release UNIX System V
in early 1983.  The precise date of release will be announced in
January.  Educational licensing has not been mentioned so far.

The most novel aspect is that AT&T will be offering support to source
licensees who request it.  Support will include updates to fix bugs,
telephone consultation, newsletters, and so forth.  So for anyone
who can cough up the price of a source license (which was $43,000 US
for System III, and has been monotonically increasing), support from
The Phone Company may finally have arrived.  Whether this is boon or
bane will undoubtedly become clear in the fullness of time.

I have my doubts about the overall impact of System V.  The commercial
community has gone to System III at considerable expense and effort,
in order to reap the benefits of lower binary licensing royalties.
The academic community is largely using 4BSD from Berkeley and is
not enthusiastically embracing System III.  It seems unlikely that
either group will be eager to accept System V.

				Darwyn Peachey
			(...!harpo!utah-cs!sask!hssg40!peachey)