Pasted directly from the "News" screen on the IBMLink 3270 interface (VM, greenscreen, aka: productive):
01 SEP 07 - Attention all VM users VM Registration Tool will sunset on October 31, 2007 Implications are: * All users and entitlements for the IBMLink VM system will be permanently set on IBMLink VM. * No new user can be registered for access to VM (3270 emulation). * No changes can be made to your company or users on the VM side. * Changes can only be made to IBMLink on the Internet and those changes will only affect IBMLink on the Internet side. * Keep in mind, all companies and users that did not previously have VM (3270 emulation) access will not be able to get VM access. * All IBMLink users will continue to have Internet access via url: www.ibm.com/ibmlink Please inform your IBMLink Customer Service Administrator (CSA) and/or Backup CSA of any changes required as soon as possible. We appreciate your support in our continued journey to consolidate and enhance our presence on the Internet. If you have any concerns or comments, please submit a "feedback" from IBM Link on the web (internet) or call our Help Desk at 1-800-543-3912. If you are a current user of the IBMLink 3270 interface, I'd be sure it's still working before and after October 31, 2007. At one point in the recent past IBMLink 3270 had been relegated to the trash heap of history. Rumor has it that several prominent European customers raised such an uproar that IBMLink relented somewhat. My interpretation of the above legal-speak is that IBMLink 3270 will be frozen as-is (better than killed outright). Anyone with access to IBMLink 3270 retains access; no new IDs, no changes. If you are NOT a current IBMLink 3270 interface user, this is your last chance to get signed up. "Act now! Operators are standing by to take your call! Open 24 hours! One free set of Ginsue (sp?) steak knives with each order! And that's not all! If you call in the next 10 minutes and mention this offer..." (OK, they didn't REALLY say any of that.) :-) Even though the quotes "news" above specifically reports changes to the "VM Registration Tool", I called the 800 number to ask if a user can still change their "IBMLink VM" (a new term from IBM!) password after October 31, 2007 in light of the statement "* No changes can be made to your company or users on the VM side."). From the "VM Registration Tool" heading one could presume that everything else including password changes should still work. But given the frequent errors/misunderstandings regarding pretty much everything to do with "IBMLink VM", I simply want to be prepared. The gentleman I spoke with had a heavy Indian accept and asked multiple unrelated questions, but as best I could tell users will still be able to change their own passwords. I won't be too surprised if his reply and reality don't mesh after October 31. Time will tell... Mike Walter Hewitt Associates Any opinions expressed herein are mine alone and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of Hewitt Associates. The information contained in this e-mail and any accompanying documents may contain information that is confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, please immediately alert the sender by reply e-mail and then delete this message, including any attachments. Any dissemination, distribution or other use of the contents of this message by anyone other than the intended recipient is strictly prohibited.
