Page 107 - A Life - my Live - my path

9.2 IBM AS400 - Synon-2
In April 1988, I got a phone call from an IBM director saying:
"Mr Monaco, hello, I'm... in charge of the launch program
for the new series of computers that will replace the S38. As
a sneak preview, I'm announcing that its name is the AS400.
The official public announcement is scheduled for
June 21, 1988, the day of the summer solstice. In other big
news, IBM has chosen the Synon-2 development tool".
He also points out that this environment is totally
unknown to them. They contacted SYNON Ltd, the English
company that developed and markets it. The latter
immediately informed them that in Belgium, a seasoned
specialist had been using Synon-2 for over 2 years,
Mr. MONACO of the IRE.

The director continued: "The reason I'm calling is to ask
you if you'd like to come and present Synon-2 on
June 21, 1988, at the official AS400 announcement in our
auditorium in La Hulpe. All our French-speaking agents and
customers will be there. There will be around 700 of them.
Your presentation will last 20 minutes."
I accepted the invitation in principle, subject to the
agreement of IRE's general management. I also made it
clear, of course, that my text could not be reviewed. It was
obviously my intention to explain all the good things I
thought of Synon-2, but as a matter of principle, I was wary
of these large international groups. They agreed and invited
me to take part in the preparatory meetings.
After this discussion, I went - with a sense of pride - to my
department manager to explain the situation. We were

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