IBM to Feature Unique E-Business Solutions at CeBit, Will Also Demonstrate “Network Vehicle” with “Smart” Features
PARIS (February 05, 1998) – What do the car of the future, the largest selection of Web servers, combined with network computers, software solutions for every industry, award-winning mobile and desktop PCs, as well as advanced semiconductor and storage products, have in common?
They are part of an industry-wide, unique range of e-business solutions from IBM that will be featured at CeBIT 98 in Hanover, Germany starting March 19. IBM has a total exhibition area of almost 4,000 square metres in three different halls at this trade show, the largest in Europe.
Additionally, the keynote business speaker at CeBIT this year will be Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer, IBM. He is scheduled to speak on March 18, the night before the show opens.
One of the most interesting demonstrations at the show this year will be the network vehicle, a technology initiative from IBM, Delphi Automotive Systems, Netscape Communications and Sun Microsystems. Existing hardware and software technologies, including voice
recognition, wireless communication, Global Positioning System, microprocessors, Java and Internet access have all been integrated in this “car of the future.” A demonstration of this prototype drew rave reviews when the companies revealed it in the US late last year.
CUSTOMERS SPEAK OUT
Net.Community is a new software package from IBM to access municipal services on-line, 24 hours a day. With the city of Krefeld, Germany as an example, IBM will demonstrate how Net.Community can become an electronic town centre where local residents gather information or process applications. Via Internet or with public terminals, Net.Community will provide an unlimited range of ‘electronic town services’ — municipal services, business directories, schedules and traffic connections, event calendars, as well as news about politics and administration.
An electronic commerce solution IBM has created with the retailer Migros in Switzerland will offer another customer example showing recent e-business advancements. Employees of Migros in Bern and Zurich, for instance, can use their PCs to access 1,200 food and non-food articles from the Migros range of goods. The “virtual shopping basket” is filled with the desired products and ordered via Internet. The articles then can be picked up at a dedicated point on the same day or delivered to individual homes by express mail.
‘YOU AND E-BUSINESS’
In addition to leading-edge customer solutions and the network vehicle, IBM — with the slogan “you and e-business” — will feature numerous competitive offerings from IBM Global Services, among them Internet and intranet services, and it also will display its growing number of important software solutions, including its new middleware applications for NT providers, DB2 and IBM ViaVoice Gold.
IBM’s booth will feature its impressive array of systems, including the IBM Network Station Series 1000, the latest models of S/390 and AS/400 servers, both of which now access Java applets and run Domino, plus the full RS/6000 server family, including the popular SP model that powered the now world-famous Deep Blue. The Personal Systems Group will showcase technologies appealing to a wide range of customers, including the Netfinity server, ThinkPad, IntelliStation, desktop and consumer PCs and Options by IBM.
Together with more than 80 business partners, IBM also will demonstrate industry specific e-business solutions for medium-sized companies, offering detailed information on the Year 2000 and the Euro.
Source: IBM