COMMON (user group)

In 1969, the IBM System/3 became the first of IBM's mid-range computers,[http://www.ibmsystem3.nl/pdf/IBM_S3_Announ1.pdf Original System/3 Product Announcement] following by the System/34 and System/36. The IBM System/38, announced in 1978, was not very successful but its architecture was the basis of the IBM AS/400,{{cite book|title=Inside the AS/400, Second Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5DoPAAAACAAJ|isbn=978-1882419661|author=Frank G. Soltis|year=1997|publisher=Duke Press}}{{cite interview|last=Schleicher|first=David L.|interviewer=Arthur L. Norberg|title=An Interview with DAVID L. SCHLEICHER|url=https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/handle/11299/107623/oh381ds.pdf|publisher=Charles Babbage Institute|date=2006-01-24|website=conservancy.umn.edu|access-date=2021-03-05}}

released in 1988.{{cite web |title=A Brief History of the IBM AS/400 and iSeries |url=http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/documents/pdf/as400.pdf |website=03.ibm.com |publisher=International Business Machines |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060503190444/http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/documents/pdf/as400.pdf |access-date=10 February 2025|archive-date=3 May 2006 }} There were 250,000 AS/400s installed in businesses at the end of 1994{{cite magazine |magazine= InfoWorld |date= 14 February 1994 |first=Paul |last=Korzenioski |title=AS/400 in the LAN environment |page=52 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7DoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52}} with a corresponding number of people supporting the operation of those computers. A strong culture and community grew up around the IBM platform in the three decades since the AS/400 was launched and underscores its' popularity and success. The 1990s were the heyday of COMMON with thousands of members attending semi-annual educational conferences.

The Late-2000s recession had a severe effect on COMMON activities. Event attendance, which had increased throughout the 1980s and 1990s, dropped substantially. IT professionals were working longer hours and had smaller budgets for training and education, which resulted in COMMON changing from two conferences per year to oneMorgan, Timothy Prickett: [http://www.itjungle.com/tfh/tfh102708-story08.html "Another AS/400 User Group Powers Down"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205012039/http://www.itjungle.com/tfh/tfh102708-story08.html# |date=2011-12-05 }} The Four Hundred, October 27, 2008 and shortening the conference length from five days to four. Free attendance for volunteers was also eliminated and sponsorship was required for social events.Rosin, Leah: [http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/iseries/common-board-reveals-financial-situation-at-meeting-of-members/ "COMMON board reveals financial situation at meeting of members"] IT Knowledge Exchange, April 30, 2009

In the 2020s, over 100,000 organizations used mid-range computers. Following a hiatus from COVID, bi-annual conferences resumed, as did additional educational offerings. As of 2021, there were over 26,000 members in LinkedIn's group for AS/400 and iSeries professionals.{{cite web |title=60+ IBM i User Groups and Communities to Join |url=https://www.fortra.com/blog/60-ibm-i-user-groups-and-communities-join |website=fortra.com |publisher=Fortra, LLC |access-date=10 February 2025}}

Thousands of users have spent much, most or all of their careers using IBM i. A 2021 Forta poll showed 56% of respondents had over 30 years' experience with AS/400, many of whom would be retiring soon. Those who replace them will rely on user groups for education and help from peers, which was the reason Common was founded.{{cite web |last1=Huntington |first1=Todd |title=Is the AS/400 Dead? |url=https://www.fortra.com/blog/as400-dead |website=Forta.com |publisher=Forta LLC |access-date=12 February 2025}}

As of 2020, the IBM midrange systems held a 36.3% market share, especially prevalent in critical industries such as banking, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics and retail. Most enterprises depend on the AS400/iSeries/IBMi in these sectors, with most or all of their workload operating seamlessly on this system.{{cite web |last1=Khatri |first1=Nirmal |title=Everything You Need to Know About the AS400 iSeries (IBM i) |url=https://programmers.io/blog/everything-to-know-about-ibmi-as400-i-series/#:~:text=Today%2C%20there%20are%20more%20than,platform%%20others%20at%20IBM. |website=programmers.io |publisher=Programmers IO |access-date=10 February 2025}}

The platform remains an important IBM product with a bright future. IBM releases new hardware/software versions every two or three years that make quantum advancements in functionality and processing power. IBM makes new product announcements at Common events where users can ask IBM developers questions.{{cite web |title=Power E1080 IBM i Technology Refresh Announcement — September 8, 2021 |url=https://learn.common.org/products/power-e1080-ibm-i-technology-refresh-announcement-september-8-2021#:~:text=Join%20COMMON%20and%20the%20IBM%20i%20team,to%20Rational%20Developer%20for%20i%20and%20Access |website=common.org |publisher=Common |access-date=12 February 2025}}

In a 2021 survey of users, 43% were running most or all of their business applications on Power Systems. This reflects the platform's enduring legacy. Over half of those users expected to stay with their current hardware; a small percentage of users planned to move to another platform.

Only members can utilize Common resources. Memberships can be acquired by individuals, company or user groups.

A popular feature of membership is the Common Conference, held twice a year at varying locations in the US. The spring conference is named "POWERUp"; the fall conference is named "NAViGATE". Nearly nine hours of educational sessions are scheduled each day; an exhibition expo is open on the second and third day, with about 40 vendors including IBM, offering software and hardware.{{cite web |title=Conference at a Glance |url=https://www.common.org/pu25-conference-at-a-glance/ |website=common.org |publisher=Common |access-date=12 February 2025}}

Common schedules internet-based education, including Webcasts and Webinars. A Career Center for employers and job hunters.Morgan, Timothy Prickett: [http://www.itjungle.com/tfh/tfh042406-story07.html "Common User Group Starts Midrange Career Center"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724125706/http://www.itjungle.com/tfh/tfh042406-story07.html# |date=2008-07-24 }} IT Jungle, April 14, 2006

A new collaborative effort between COMMON and IBM has been launched. New 2 IBM i (N2i) seeks to help new IT professionals learn necessary skills and optimize the platform.{{cite web |title=New to IBM i |url=https://www.common.org/new-2-ibm-n2i/ |website=Common.org |publisher=Common |access-date=11 February 2025}}

• POWERUp 2024, Fort Worth, May 20–23, 2024{{cite web |title=Events |url=https://www.common.org/events/list/ |website=common.org |publisher=Common |access-date=11 February 2025}}
• NAViGATE 2024, Bonita Springs, November 4–6, 2024
• COMMON India, Pune, February 24–26, 2025
• POWERUp 2025, Anaheim, May 19–22, 2025
• NAViGATE 2025, Pittsburgh, September 15–17, 2025

• [http://www.ocean400.org/ OCEAN User Group]
• [http://www.omniuser.org/ The Omni User] -- Chicago, IL
• [http://www.fasug.org/ Fairfield AS/400 User Group]
• [http://www.neugc.org/ North East User Group]
• [http://www.semiug.org/ South East Michigan iSeries User Group]
• [https://www.idug.org/ International Db2 Users Group]
• [https://www.the-lug.com/ The Large User Group]

• SHARE (computing)
• GUIDE International

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|http://www.common.org/}}

Category:User groups

Category:IBM

Category:Organizations established in 1960

Category:Educational organizations based in the United States