Not to belabor the point, but here is an announcement I just saw today from IBM services... They seem to put out a constant barrage of updates on new offerings, service wins, etc. All I see from CPQ are recurring ads with their non-stop theme and one in today's NY Times that talks about their commanding lead in server market share.
John
IBM kicks service provider efforts into overdrive
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Updated 7:05 AM ET October 27, 1999
By Chris Gonsalves, PC Week
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- IBM showed its enthusiasm for hosted applications
Tuesday, unveiling a new set of products and services to help service providers
and software developers beef up their network-based computing offerings.
The IBM Service Providers for e-Business initiative, announced here at the Fall
ISPCON conference, includes a program to help ISVs prepare applications for
Web delivery, a testing and certification regimen for ISPs looking to host
applications, and a series of ready-to-rent applications from Big Blue
subsidiary Lotus Development Corp.
"IBM understands the size and the attractiveness of this opportunity, and we are
dead serious about winning," said Jim Corgel, general manager of IBM's
Global Internet Service Provider Industry. "We really have mobilized the entire
company in support of service providers."
ASP Prime
A key feature of the Service Providers for e-Business program is the new ASP
Prime for software developers. For fees yet to be disclosed, IBM will provide
education to ISVs, perform an assessment of their applications, help make
those apps Web-ready and point the ISV to an appropriate hosting provider.
As part of ASP Prime, IBM is giving participating ISVs access to two new test
and development centers -- one in Beaverton, Ore., for Unix and Windows NT,
another in Rochester, Minn., for AS/400.
On the hosting front, IBM's new initiative includes Hosting Advantage, which
helps an ISP build and test its hosting infrastructure. Those that pass are given
IBM PartnerWorld Premier status and are lined up with ASP Prime participants
looking for hosts.
Hosting Advantage tests "critical elements that a service provider needs to
create a dependable and a robust hosting environment," said Buell Duncan III,
general manager of IBM Global Business partners.
Lotus ASP Solution Pack
The Lotus ASP Solution Pack, a third piece of IBM's new offering, features
specialized servers and prepackaged business applications ready for hosting
and delivery by an ASP. The ASP Solution Pack includes an integrated portal
to manage applications such as messaging, scheduling and team
collaboration.
"Lotus has provided us with a one-stop shop, which is very powerful," said Jim
Lidestri, president of Interliant Inc., an ASP and Web hosting company in
Purchase, N.Y. "It allows us to provide solutions faster to the customer more
cost-effectively."
The Service Providers for e-Business program also includes a number of a la
carte services, including consulting, end-user education, recovery and
performance management.
IBM can be reached at www.ibm.com. |
