The Year 2000 Problem Could Speed the Removal of Outdated Corporate Computing SystemsCMP's InformationWeek Looks at the Bright Side of the Millennium Bug; Unveils a Year 2000 Online Resource CenterPRNewswire There is a bright side to the year 2000 problem, according to CMP's InformationWeek magazine. Corporate information systems (IS) professionals are discovering that the problem -- a computer's inability to handle the extra two digits the year 2000 brings -- can speed major reengineering and upgrade projects designed to get rid of older, slower systems, and, in some cases, obsolete hardware and software. An InformationWeek survey of 100 chief information officers at U.S. companies found that 46 percent are speeding initiatives such as reengineering work because of year 2000-related projects already underway. Similarly, 43 percent said their year 2000 compliance efforts have allowed them to find out-of-date systems that can be phased out. Particular examples the magazine cites include MasterCard International, whose year 2000 work is seeding not one but four major upgrade projects, and General Motors, whose millennium bug work is speeding its move to common systems. Some of the federal government's IS managers are also viewing the problem as an opportunity to replace some of its aging systems. John Koskinen, Deputy Director at the US Management and Budget Office and head of a federal CIO council, told InformationWeek that one federal agency has found 85 systems that no one uses. The InformationWeek cover story on the year 2000 problem can be found on the publication's Web site, InformationWeek Online, at http://techweb.cmp.com/iw/627/27iuyr2.htm. Readers can also find a new Year 2000 Resource Center -- which offers the latest news on the bug, plus features and links to other related sites -- at http://techweb.cmp.com/iw/center/year2k.htm. In addition to the weekly magazine, InformationWeek provides a complete system of information solutions for people who manage technology in business, such as InformationWeek Online (http://www.informationweek.com/), the Web-based resource for the information systems community; the annual InformationWeek 500 Conference for business and technology executives; and InformationWeek Daily, delivering news directly to the enterprise buyer's desktop. Published weekly by CMP Media, Inc., InformationWeek magazine delivers news, strategies, analysis, product and technology information to people who manage technology in business. At 350,000 qualified IT buyers, InformationWeek has the largest circulation in the information systems category. CMP Media Inc. provides publishing, marketing and information services to the broad high-technology spectrum--the builders, sellers and users of technology -- through print and electronic media. All of CMP's publications and online products can be accessed through the company's TechWeb® site on the World Wide Web (http://www.techweb.com/). Print titles include EE Times, Computer Reseller News, InformationWeek and WINDOWS Magazine. All of CMP's press releases are available on the Web at http://techweb.cmp.com/corporate. Journalists and reporters may also set up interviews with CMP's high technology experts through the site by e-mail. -0- 04/25/97 SOURCE: CMP Media Inc. CONTACT: Steve Rubel, Corporate Communications Specialist of CMP Media, |