Because there were two different implementations, operating system vendors and hardware vendors needed to develop and test on both of them.

They are often defined by standards bodies, database vendors or operating system vendors.

This 'middleware' strategy would make software vendors and customers independent from operating system vendors, like Microsoft, thus posing a real threat.

"I want to underscore Motorola's commitment to supporting the system vendors and their customers who have chosen the 88000," Mr. Goldman said.

Proprietary designs were developed by system vendors such as SGI for use in its own systems.

A number of operating system vendors offer consumers the choice of licensing their operating systems without a browser.

But while system vendors have started to offer U.S.B. devices, these products are often sold as options or add-ons.

Another approach is for operating system vendors to adopt standards.

Such private use definers might be operating system vendors, font vendors, or other independent standards organizations.

Operating system vendors responded by implementing workarounds that detected the condition and prevented the crash.