T3 Technologies, Inc. Files Anti-Trust Claims Against IBM

TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- T3 Technologies, Inc. announced today that it has filed an anti-trust claim against IBM in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging anti-trust violations and unfair competition. The filing seeks to join Platform Solutions' existing anti-trust litigation against IBM due to the similarities in the company's allegations.

T3's claims are based on a history of efforts by IBM to maintain and extend its monopoly power in the mainframe hardware industry. T3 alleges that since the expiration of the U.S. Justice Department's Consent Decree in 2001, and contrary to historical practices that resulted from that decree, IBM has prevented the sales of competing mainframe hardware products by withholding the licensing of IBM's mainframe operating systems to any hardware systems except their own. T3 is seeking undisclosed damages.

"Imagine if Microsoft decided to manufacture PC's and then refused to sell Windows for any computers except their own. The world would be without Dell, HP, and all other PC and server vendors-- even IBM!" said Steven Friedman, President of T3 Technologies. "That's exactly what IBM is doing in the mainframe world."

T3 championed the cause of smaller mainframe users when they began marketing their tServer line of mainframe-compatible systems in 2000. Developed specifically for small-mid sized users that IBM offerings no longer suited, the tServer became the leading small mainframe in the world, with over 600 units installed in 28 countries.

In 2006, T3 released their Liberty family of mainframes, which accommodates larger users than the tServer does and added extended functionality. The Liberty technology is based on firmware developed by and licensed from Platform Solutions, Inc. Contrary to the tServer, Liberty systems compete directly with much of IBM's z9 BC product line. Within weeks of shipping the first few Liberty systems, IBM notified T3 Liberty customers that they would not license any IBM mainframe operating systems for Liberty hardware. At the same time, IBM also refused to license new operating systems for the tServer line as well.

"The tServer was a great success because it perfectly matched the function and value needs of smaller mainframe users, something IBM still isn't providing. Liberty was similarly designed to meet the specific needs of the market space above tServer, up to 350 MIPS. The initial success of Liberty showed we were on target again until IBM pulled the rug out from us." Friedman said. "It's not only T3 that's been damaged by IBM's actions. As in any monopoly situation, all end-users suffer when there's a lack of choice. Simply stated, the result of IBM's actions has been the elimination of every alternative in the marketplace."

About T3

T3 Technologies is a privately held firm based in Tampa, Florida. The company was launched in 1992 and has been involved with mainframe hardware and services since its inception.

For more information, please visit http://www.t3t.com