EMC axes Retrospect 8.0?

EMC has reportedly halted plans to release its Retrospect 8.0 backup software as part of a larger plan to cut costs across the Insignia small- and medium-sized business group. While EMC spokespeople deny the claims, they admit that significant cuts were recently made at the company's Walnut Creek offices where most of the Insignia group worked, according to The Register. Last week the firm said it dismissed 40 people in marketing, sales, and other positions, but said many of those employees found work at VMware -- a part of EMC. The report claims that a skeleton crew still remains to ensure the release of Retrospect 7.5 some time during this quarter, which will include updates for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and Microsoft Windows Vista.

"There are dedicated engineering resources focused on advancing Retrospect," an EMC spokesman said. "You will see enhancements coming this quarter."

The company dodged direct questions about whether it will release Retrospect 8.0, but reiterated that its small- and medium-sized business group remains a priority for the company. "You will see more hardware and software products for the SMB space at this time next year than you see now," a spokesman said.

Workers at the Walnut Creek office said they are pushed into a corner, and that EMC is planning to rent out their old cubicles. "They closed three quarters of the office and even the kitchen to EMC workers," said one source cited by The Register. "They put up walls and moved everyone out." Current EMC vice-president and former Dantz CEO Larry Zulch informed the Insignia staff of the planned changes in December. "The engineers were halfway through 8.0 in December and then all work ceased," said one source. "From what I understand, the new version will not even be released," another source said. "Everyone had such high hopes for the product. It had a polished interface, and I think it would have been a success."

by MacNN Staff