This month marks the 25th anniversary of the IBM i operating system, which runs on IBM’s Power Systems and PureSystems PureFlex servers. It was on 21 June 1988 when IBM debuted the new Application System/400 (AS/400) family of computer systems, the original predecessor to the IBM i operating system.
At the time, the six new AS/400 models were dubbed IBM’s “most massive hardware and software undertaking ever”.
As part of the AS/400 introduction, IBM and a host of IBM Business Partners announced more than 1 000 software packages, in the biggest simultaneous applications announcement in computer history.
Fast forward 25 years and the IBM i operating system, currently available on IBM’s Power Systems and PureSystems PureFlex branded systems, remains a popular choice among businesses of all sizes.
IBM estimates that today approximately 150 000 businesses worldwide use an IBM i system. With support for over 5 000 solutions from over 2 500 ISVs, i solutions are offered through an extensive worldwide network of IBM Business Partners backed by services and support infrastructure from IBM.
As the IBM i platform has grown over the years, key industries include banking and financial services, casinos, retail and manufacturing. IBM I developers are now also seeking out and delivering best in class applications in four key growth computing areas: big data, mobile, social and cloud.