The French Connection - IBM and Dassult

The IBM/Dassault reletionship was once very easy to understand: Dassault made the CATIA software and IBM made the workstations the software ran on. Remember those specialized and very expensive CAD workstations with special hardware controls with rotating knobs for 3D? Now that those workstations are gone and IBM's role seems to be selling and supporting Dassault software in US and Canada. But lately IBM has been phasing out its service relationships. So what is the current IBM/Dassault relationship?

At the recent COE 2007, officials from both companies tried to assure us the Dassault/IBM relationship is stronger than ever. IBM confirmed that they will be handling a smaller number of customers and customers will be  transitioned from IBM coverage to Dassault coverage. However, IBM still states adamantly that it is not phasing out Dassault, and is in fact, keeping "1200 of  the biggest customers." Dassault says IBM is selling even more Dassault products.

Probably the most curious aspect of this relationship, which has spanned 25 years, is that both parties have remained faithful to each other -- at least in the US. Though there has never been a contractual obligation of exclusivity, neither party has offered rival products and services.

It's hard to believe a handshake still works.

Comments

[Ken]

Isn't IBM offering rival products with their selling and support of UGS's Teamcenter Express?