IBM Corp has decided that OS/2 will support Microsoft Corp’s Win32s applications programming interface after all. An imminent beta test version of OS/2 for Windows will incorporate the opposition’s 32-bit applications programming interfaces and the technology will be incorporated into the next commercial release, making it more likely that any forthcoming 32-bit Windows applications will work correctly under OS/2. Some will see the move as capitulation to the enemy; however, pragmatic OS/2 users will welcome the development – there were already grumbles that some new Windows applications were failing to run under OS/2’s Windows sub-system. Previously, IBM said that although it was technically possible to implement Win32s on OS/2, it would hold off until customer demand was clear. It is committed to keeping the various OS/2 versions in step with each other, so it is virtually certain Win32s will also appear on OS/2 for the PowerPC.
