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By
Dennis James
Editor-in-Chief
January 2006
First of all, I must wish each and every one of you a very Happy New Year. It appears that IBM has made major steps in integrating Ascential's software into its WebSphere™ product line. The infrastructure of Ascential's Westboro HQ will take a little longer to align itself with the traditional IBM organization. I remain optimistic that Ascential + IBM will create a positive marketplace for everyone involved. Increased exposure for the products via the entire IBM sales force should result in finding more creative uses for the products that pay our bills. In the meantime, let's make sure we keep the flame burning for our trusted DataStage.
We've been saying for over a year that the DSXchange site must evolve to a revenue-producing site, if for no other reason than to cover the rising costs. We have finally reached the point where the new site will help us leverage a new concept and add additional value. I have met with the top posters from the site, and have reached an agreement to separate the content of their collective wisdom as the jewel of the site. Our members will have the ability to receive a certain amount of information for free, and then decide if they want a Premium Membership in order to view the full site.
As our "Industry Experts" allocate more of their time into providing detailed responses for Premium Members, we expect to see new experts "rise from the ranks" as they will have the chance to contribute solutions for the readers that aren't yet ready to upgrade. This will provide new services and increased content for both Premium and Standard members on an ongoing basis.
We have created a "Charter Member" program that will let the first 500 subscribers pay only $49.00 for annual dues (normally priced at $99.00). That's a 50% savings. We'll also guarantee that Charter Members get that reduced rate when they sign up next year. If you want to see more, click here for your peek at the new site and your chance to sign up now. Give us a try! Show your support for our years of service and help us expand our site to offer a higher value at every juncture. See you on the "Premium" side.
Dennis James, Editor