CA Users Bewail Support

Users of products from Computer Associates International Inc. (CA) (NYSE: CA) welcome the companys decision to reschedule its massive CA World conference, but many don't welcome the level of support they're getting from the vendor.

CA is emerging from a turbulent period in its history that originally forced the company to pull the plug on its annual customer jamboree. An accounting scandal kept CA in the headlines for all the wrong reasons for most of last year, with the company eventually reaching a $225 million settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice. The Islandia, N.Y.-based vendor also announced a massive corporate restructuring (see CA's Mea Culpa and CA Cuts 800 Jobs).

Against the backdrop of all this upheaval, the annual confab seemed a wash. But it is back on the calendar, albeit later than usual. Instead of its usual spring date, CA World 2005 will take place between November 13 and 17 at the Venetian Las Vegas and Sands Expo and Convention Center (see CA Announces CA World 2005).

Users are now breathing a sigh of relief. "A lot of us look forward to CA World,” says Tim Kaufman, president of the AutoSys Technical Users Group. “Not only do you get good information, but it’s a good way to check in with your peers.”

However, Kaufman feels that, in the aftermath of all the recent turmoil, support remains an issue. “Except for email information from CA, I don’t get a lot of personal contact from them,” he says. ”We still have to try and figure out who to contact for things. They haven’t been very proactive in contacting users.”Michael Nephew, first vice president of the BrightStor User Group told NDCF that he, personally, has not experienced any support problems, but he foresees it being a major talking point at the November event. “Probably one of the big issues will be what has happened to support since the resizing,” he says.

One thing is for certain, with analyst firm Gartner Inc. warning of slow software sales until 2006, CA’s installed base will be of critical importance over the coming months (see Software Slump Is Deal Time).

The CA World event will also be the first for the company’s new chief exec John Swainson, who last year stepped into the shoes vacated by former CEO Sanjay Kumar (see Swainson Swoops in as CA CEO).

CA was unavailable for comment.

— James Rogers, Site Editor, Next-Gen Data Center Forum0