OpenMPE fell short of its 100-system goal

After a limited campaign, the homestead advocacy group OpenMPE failed to get what it wanted for the holidays: financial commitments from the owners of 100 HP 3000s. Board members were disappointed to learn in early December that HP 3000 owners didn’t respond to OpenMPE’s offer of lab services in 2005 to extend the life of MPE. The group wanted purchase orders or letters of intent from 3000 owners who would commit to spend between $3,750 and $20,000 next year with OpenMPE to set up a virtual lab.

Board chairman Birket Foster set the Nov. 30 deadline for the campaign. “If you don’t have short deadlines, nothing gets done,” he said. But some board members felt the 90-day effort would be too brief — and the issues too sudden for homesteaders — to win revenue for MPE enhancements which HP may not even permit. HP told the HP 3000 customers that it will not decide until after June, 2005 about releasing MPE/iX source code to a third party like the virtual lab.

OpenMPE, operating on the strength of a $5,000 donation from HP and the volunteer efforts of its nine-member board, isn’t finished yet. But several of its board members have said that the group needs to show HP some proof of the group’s influence and commitment — especially if OpenMPE hopes to receive a limited license to use the HP 3000’s source code. The sales campaign suffered from a lack of a product to sell, according to board members. Customers simply could not see what the group might offer without that MPE license agreement from HP.

“OpenMPE’s not where it needs to get to, not yet,” said Foster when contacted during a sales trip for his company. “From a financial point of view, they couldn’t support the projects that would have to be undertaken. It’s a hard spot to be in.”

In the meantime, the organization retains its place as the focal point for HP’s communications with 3000 customers — at least those who will remain on the platform beyond the end of 2006. A 3000 NewsWire survey conducted during November showed that more than half of the 3000 customer base said it will be operating 3000 systems after HP leaves the market.

About half of those customers have long-term plans for their HP 3000s, forming a sizable target market for enhancement of the operating system, the services which a virtual MPE lab will provide. On the other hand, post-2006 support providers have been virtually unanimous: HP’s decision about that MPE source code — the green light OpenMPE needs to attract POs and participation — won’t have a serious impact on quality of third-party HP 3000 support.

After a limited campaign, the homestead advocacy group OpenMPE failed to get what it wanted for the holidays: financial commitments from the owners of 100 HP 3000s. Board members were disappointed to learn in early December that HP 3000 owners didn’t respond to OpenMPE’s offer of lab services in 2005 to extend the life of MPE. The group wanted purchase orders or letters of intent from 3000 owners who would commit to spend between $3,750 and $20,000 next year with OpenMPE to set up a virtual lab.

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