[Info-vax] The real problem that needs solving to grow VMS

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 11/2/2022 9:34 AM, Simon Clubley wrote:
> On 2022-11-01, Arne Vajhøj <arne at vajhoej.dk> wrote:
>> On 11/1/2022 3:49 PM, Phillip Helbig (undress to reply) wrote:
>>> In article <tjrsnf$nbs$1 at gioia.aioe.org>, =?UTF-8?Q?Arne_Vajh=c3=b8j?=
>>> <arne at vajhoej.dk> writes:
>>>> There is an outstanding problem with the expiring licenses
>>>> that in some worst case scenarios could mean systems
>>>> stopping with short notice.
>>>
>>> That seems to be the biggest problem for many (potential) customers.
>>
>> Based on?
>>
>> comp.os.vms is not exactly a CIO forum.
>>
>> My take is that it is more a problem for existing customers than
>> for the new customers. Existing VMS customers think decades. A lot
>> of new stuff is HW and OS end up in the dumpster after 5 years
>> (applications may still live decades).
> 
> If VSI goes bust, what do they move that VMS application (with its
> expiring OS licences) to in 5 years time ?

Something else obviously. Linux. Windows. AIX. FreeBSD. Maybe
even something that does not exist today.

Whenever you buy a product from a vendor there is a risk that the
vendor could go bankrupt or that the vendor could drop the
product.

The risk of VSI dropping VMS is extremely small given that
VMS is their only business.

The risk of bankruptcy is small based on what we have heard about
VSI finances, but it is probably bigger than the risk for IBM or MS.

Note that companies would want to migrate in these cases even with
for ever licenses.

>>>> But potential customers should talk to VSI about that.
>>>> Businesses are usually listening when it is about revenue.
>>>
>>> Usually.  Some have talked and not got a satisfactory answer.
>>
>> The french user group talked to VSI and did not convince VSI.
>>
>> But if more do so then maybe ...
> 
> You mean more than an entire European country worth of VMS users ?

Yes.

France contacted VSI. VSI did come up with some exceptions,
but kept the principle.

If VSI hear the same message from Sweden, UK, New York,
Boston, San Francisco and Singapore then they will start
seeing a pattern.

Arne