IBM Previews New Software Suites To Business Partners
Integration of IBM and Lotus technologies will make software easier to buy, sell, install and deploy
SAN FRANCISCO (February 17, 1998) – IBM, a leading supplier of hardware, software and services for Windows NT**, today unveiled plans to offer software suites that will open up hot markets and opportunities for business partners.
The new suites are part of a broad initiative to further tighten integration among products from IBM and Lotus Development Corp., and collaborate with value-added distributors and resellers, systems integrators and software vendors in pursuing fast-growing markets, such as small business and e-business.
IBM previewed the integrated suites to more than 3,000 IBM and Lotus business partners attending the Business Partners Executive Conference (BPEC) ’98, to jump start the development of new services and applications. The offerings will include a small business suite, departmental suite, and enterprise suite, designed to make it fast, easy and profitable for solution providers to deliver IBM “e-business” solutions for Windows NT across diverse industries and markets.
“Reliability, security, and scalability have been our hallmarks,” said Dick Sullivan, vice president, NT Solutions Marketing, IBM Software Solutions Division. “These suites add a new dimension. Everything about them is easy — from buying and selling to using. Even technical support is a one-stop shopping experience.”
Amy Wohl, president, Amy Wohl Associates, a leading analyst firm, added, “IBM’s entrance into the Windows NT suite market will help businesses of any size — small to enterprise — relax. IBM means secure and reliable systems software, available for many different operating systems. I expect IBM to deliver and support much needed enterprise-proven software solutions to the Windows NT market.”
Business partners can use IBM’s value-packed suites to create, deliver and support Windows NT applications, ranging from e-mail and messaging to transaction processing and enterprise resource planning. With these solutions, businesses of all sizes that have selected Windows NT as an operating system can begin to exploit Internet technologies to connect their customers, employees, suppliers and vendors. IBM also announced that these suites and levels of integration will be made available on platforms such as OS/2* and AIX*.
“These are the kind of tools that business partners can bank on,” said Ian Bonner, vice president, Lotus and IBM worldwide partner marketing and programs, IBM. “The suites will create a tremendous opportunity for developers and channel partners to add services and capabilities for specific customer and industry needs. We’re making them easy to buy and, with the full complement of technical, sales and marketing support that we’re offering, they’ll also be easy to sell.”
Solution providers can draw on IBM’s broad and diverse resources for technical support for both the suites and the Windows NT operating system. Simple to install, configure and use, the new suites will enable solution providers to rapidly build and deploy Windows NT applications, on time and within budget. The components within the suites are based on open, industry standards and can run on leading operating systems, from desktop PC systems up to large mainframes.
Source: IBM