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Common User Access aimed at providing "a common user interface for the entire IBM product line. A user who sits down at a PC should see the same menus, keyboards and procedures that he would at a 3270 terminal."cite-ref-perna-7-1[7]

Because of hardware differences complete commonality was impossible to attain. IBM created two CUA standards, the Basic Interface for IBM 3270 and IBM 5250 terminals, and the Advanced Interface for so-called "intelligent workstations", or PCs. The keyboard was standardized to the Model M, 101 key, "AT Enhanced" keyboard layout.cite-ref-linnell-5-2[5]

Common Communications Services defined the methods by which heterogeneous systems communicated. CCS depended on Advanced Program-to-Program Communications, also known as APPC or LU6.2, Systems Network Architecture (SNA) PU2.1 or Low Entry Networking for peer-to-peer networking, and SNA Management Services for network control.cite-ref-linnell-5-3[5]

Three types of data links were supported:cite-ref-linnell-5-4[5]

• Synchronous Data Link Control (SDLC) high speed wide area networks

• X.25 packet-switched networks

• Token Ring local area networks (LAN)

Application Servicescite-ref-linnell-5-5[5] were provided by:

• CCS supported IBM 3270 data streams, mainly for existing devices

• Document Content Architecture specified a format for documents to be exchanged among different word processors and other software

• Intelligent Printer Data Stream (IPDS) was a page description language like Xerox Interpress or Adobe PostScript

• SNA Distribution Services (SNADS) for store and forward document transmission

• Document Interchange Architecture (DIA) for electronic mail

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