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Date:         Thu, 1 Aug 1991 15:14:05 PDT
Reply-To:     "10646M: Multibyte code working group" <10646M@JHUVM.BITNET>
Sender:       "10646M: Multibyte code working group" <10646M@JHUVM.BITNET>
From:         "F. Avery Bishop 01-Aug-1991 1512" <bishop@DECWET.ENET.DEC.COM>
Subject:      DEC position on 10646M
X-To:         external_10646m@Pa.dec.com
To:           Edwin Hart <HART@APLVM.BITNET>
 
To: 10646M mailing list
Subj:    DEC position on 10646M
 
Digital supports the work of the 10646M ad hoc group chaired by Ed Hart to form
a single worldwide character code set jointly based on 10646 and Unicode.
 
From the national comments on DIS 10646, it is now clear that ISO needs to
address the desire of users to have just one universal character set.  In
addition, the Unicode standard, Unicode member companies, computer users, and
others will realize the following benefit from having a single worldwide
character code.
 
- Support by implementors
 
    Implementors will be encouraged to adopt the multilingual code
    when they know there is only one standard rather than two
    "competing" standards. Interoperability will be enhanced when
    companies not now involved in the Unicode consortium support the
    code in multiple hardware platforms and operating systems.
 
- Penetration to markets where international standard conformance is required.
 
    This includes procurement requirements for contracts with
    government agencies (including EC) and international
    organizations.
 
- Much broader review, resulting in an improved Unicode.
 
    The ISO voting procedure will provide more feedback from countries
    and other information technology groups.  For example, there were
    significant comments from the USSR and Greece on their
    requirements for DIS 10646.  Unicode can be improved to get better
    acceptance in those areas by meeting the requirements.
 
- Support by other international and national standards.
 
    There are many standards which must be extended to deal with a
    universal character code, including file structures, ASN.1, all
    OSI protocols, programming languages, application level standards
    such as ODA, etc).  These standards can only support other de-jure
    standards.  On the other hand, they will be strongly encouraged to
    support the Unicode code structure if it becomes an ISO standard.
    Without these extensions, the scope of Unicode will be restricted,
    and users would need to use other character sets for many
    applications.
 
Digital therefore urges all concerned to cooperate with the 10646M effort to
create a unified universal character code set that meets the needs of industry
and international users and is acceptable as an ISO standard.
Ù 10646M JHUVM  8/01/91
Ú F. Avery Bishop 01- Edwin Hart           8/01/91 DEC position on 10646M