Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 alpha 4/15/85; site gould9.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!gould9!joel
From: joel@gould9.UUCP (Joel West)
Newsgroups: net.dcom
Subject: MNP Proposed as Industry Standard
Message-ID: <213@gould9.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 17-Dec-85 10:44:57 EST
Article-I.D.: gould9.213
Posted: Tue Dec 17 10:44:57 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 19-Dec-85 05:37:01 EST
Organization: CACI, Inc. -- La Jolla, Calif.
Lines: 41
Summary: now "public domain" ?

Quoting from Computer Systems News, 12/16/85 [(c) 1985 someone or
another]:

	MARINA DEL RAY--Modem maker Microcom Inc. last week proposed
	[to CCITT] its MNP (Microcom Networking Protocol) error-protection
	scheme as an industry standard for error detection and
	correction.
	...[The company] announced that MNP classes 1, 2, and 3
	will be put in the public domain and said the company will
	make them available for $100, including full documentation.
	   Microcom also said current licensses of MNP classes 1,2,
	and 3 will receive licenses to the new classes of 4,5 and 6
	free of charge.  New licensees of MNP will pay about $2500
	for the new classes.
	  [Mumble jumble marketing b.s. "pretty much a de facto standard"]
	  [Corporate mucky-muck] said that submitting classes 1 through
	3 for consideration as a standard would make classes 4, 5 and
	6 a standard also "since they are compatible with the other
	classes of MNP."
	  [He] said the only major opposition to the accpetance of MNP
	might come from supporters of Tymnet Inc.'s X.PC protocol.

Questions and comments:
    1.	It still seems as though Microcom is trying to make money on the
	standard itself, instead of benefiting more indirectly from
	the standard's success (e.g., Tymnet and X.PC)
    2.	$100 is pretty high for "public domain".  If the manuals are
	less than 500 pages (remember the "Inside Macintosh" 
	controversy), they're probably making a good profit margin
	on this "public domain" product.
    3.	What are the chances that this act of selfless generosity
	will be accepted?
    4.	Why would any company pay $2,500 for 4-6, when they can get
	1-3 free?
    5.	Even if it is free, is there any reason why I would want
	MNP?
-- 
	Joel West	 	(619) 457-9681
	CACI, Inc. Federal, 3344 N. Torrey Pines Ct., La Jolla, CA  92037
	{cbosgd,ihnp4,pyramid,sdcsvax,ucla-cs}!gould9!joel
	gould9!joel@nosc.ARPA