Plug Compatible Manufacturer

company (PCM) A manufacturer of equipment that some other

manufacturer's system can identify and work with. The PCM's

device replaces the original manufacturer's.

Most PCMs competed with IBM. PCM devices normally offer a

cost-performance benefit over the original device. For

example, several PCM versions of the Direct-Access StorageDevice IBM 3350 offered twice the storage and improved data

access (dual port).

Plug compatible devices include replacement CPUs, such as

the Hitachi 7/90 series (which could be substituted for IBM3090 series processors), I/O subsystems, and dumbterminals like the IBM 3270.

[Used outside mainframe market?]

(2003-06-24)