 |
|
DAILY NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR THE GLOBAL GRID COMMUNITY /
|
Special Features:
GRID CREATES 'VIRTUAL' POOL OF IBM RESOURCES
IBM unveiled a new program that enables developers serving mid-size customers,
for the first time, to virtually access both IBM hardware and software
resources on demand to build, sell and deploy their solutions. IBM also added
new technical and educational resources to its Application Enablement Program,
designed to help Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) of all sizes pursue and
adopt alternative customer delivery models such as application hosting and
software-as-a-service.
Based on new Grid and IBM Virtualization Engine technologies, the IBM Virtual
Innovation Center for Hardware significantly improves IBM's ability to serve
small and medium size software developers by granting equal access to a full
range of on-demand technologies. Leveraging a powerful, first of its kind
software enablement Grid that uses Linux, IBM WebSphere, IBM Tivoli and
Virtualization Engine technologies, ISVs can access a "virtual" pool of IBM
resources -- starting with the IBM eServer pSeries hardware and AIX operating
system and TotalStorage -- 24-7 over the Internet.
The launch adds a new component to the IBM Virtual Innovation Center, an
online knowledge portal to help Business Partners build and deploy solutions
based on IBM Express offerings for mid-size companies. These enablement
programs are part of IBM Small and Medium Business Advantage, a broad $500
million initiative to help the company's 90,000 Business Partners effectively
serve the growing small and medium business (SMB) technology marketplace. In
addition to simplifying the experience of partnering with IBM, these programs
complement existing ISV initiatives, such as ISV Advantage for SMB and
PartnerWorld Industry Networks, to help partners build and sell
industry-specific, on demand solutions.
Increasing Access To Technologies
The new IBM Virtual Loaner Program, one of the key offerings of the Virtual
Innovation Center for Hardware, enables ISVs to remotely access IBM
technologies through a secure Web portal. IBM Business Partners can access
this program by joining Partnerworld and visiting www.ibm/isv .
By logging on to the IBM Virtual Loaner Program Web site at
www-1.ibm.com/servers/enable/site/vlp , software developers designate
their specific requirements for IBM hardware, software and storage based on
their individual technical and business objectives. Once the system
environment is configured, ISVs can access the systems as needed during
multiple log-in sessions. The user-friendly remote system has the unique
ability to capture and store an ISV's system environment so that ISVs can
revisit the site for testing days, weeks or even months later. In addition,
ISVs can instantly expand their system capacity with the click of a mouse.
By making these resources available virtually over the Grid, rather than
configuring and physically shipping hardware and software for every individual
ISV, IBM expects to significantly expand the number of ISVs it can assist,
provide improved access to the most up to date versions of IBM hardware and
software, and broaden the range of software applications available on the IBM
eServer platform. In addition, this program saves ISVs the time and money to
acquire and install physical systems for testing.
"The ability to provide software developers with on demand access to a full
range of IBM hardware and software to port, test and validate their
applications transforms the solutions enablement process," said Buell Duncan,
general manager of IBM ISV and Developer Relations. "We believe the IBM
Virtual Loaner program has the capacity to triple the number of ISVs users and
significantly speed the application development process to ultimately help our
partners deliver a wider set of solutions for SMB customers."
Other new resources available at the Virtual Innovation Center for Hardware
include a Sizing Guide tool and the Linux Test Drive program. The Sizing Guide
delivers an automated Web-based system sizing estimate on IBM eServer hardware
based on a front end questionnaire that captures workload capacity
information. This tool is particularly helpful for smaller ISVs who lack the
time and resources to develop their own complex sizing programs. The Linux
Test Drive program, which is administered over the Grid, enables ISVs to
remotely configure and test their applications on Linux. In addition to these
resources, the Virtual Innovation Center for Hardware program provides ongoing
technical support and access to intellectual capital and education.
Bynari Inc, a developer of mail messaging solutions based in Dallas, had the
opportunity to leverage the Virtual Loaner program to port and test their
Linux-based e-mail server to the IBM eServer iSeries platform.
"It has never been easier to port applications to IBM hardware, than it is
now, thanks to the new resources at the Virtual Innovation Center for
Hardware," said Hyun Kim, president of Bynari Inc. "By accessing the Virtual
Loaner Program, we have the flexibility to tap into the latest IBM hardware
and software technologies, whenever we need, to jumpstart our development
activities. In the end, this type of support helps speed the development
process -- and is one of the many benefits that we enjoy from partnering with
IBM."
Exploring New Delivery Models
IBM announced that an expansion to the Application Enablement Program (AEP) to
include new technical and educational resources. Addressing the growing trend
toward software as a service, the Application Enablement Program will continue
to help ISVs take advantage of IBM's flexible hosting capabilities. The
enhanced program will expand support for ISVs to assess, enable and migrate
their applications to IBM data centers. New hosting tools and technical case
studies will be available for ISVs to determine the viability of the
software-as-a-service model. In addition, workshops will be offered to help
ISVs reduce the development time to support the implementation of an
application hosting strategy. Joint marketing and planning activities will
continue to be supported.
Since the beginning of the year, 15 new ISVs have joined the Application
Enablement Program, a 50 percent increase from last year. Last year, IBM
signed over 30 leading ISVs to the program and is committed to more than
doubling that number in 2004.
"We see growing demand for software as a service because most small and medium
sized customers don't have big budgets for IT equipment and staff, and would
rather focus their resources on winning more customers and creating new
products," said Dan Watson, co-founder of eOneGroup. "The new resources in the
program will help us to move to an application hosting model to generate
greater business value for our customers, and in turn greater opportunity for
our company."
Building New Solutions For SMB Customers
The IBM Virtual Innovation Center (VIC) continues to drive Business Partner
adoption and deployment of IBM Express offerings, a broad portfolio of
products uniquely designed and priced for mid-size companies. Since its
inception in 2003, the Virtual Innovation Center has helped ISVs build more
than 700 new applications on IBM Express middleware and enabled 2,600 Business
Partners to sell these joint solutions.
As part of the IBM Innovation Center initiative, a world-class program
comprised of both virtual and on-site resources for Business Partner
recruitment, enablement and demand generation activities supporting IBM
technology, the Virtual Innovation Center offers comprehensive Web-based sales
and technical training resources such as interactive mentoring and real-time
deployment tutorials. Today, more than 40 Web-based education courses detail
the technical implementation of Express offerings, supported by dozens of
sales education and proposal development courses. New programs will be
expanded this year to support the porting of additional applications.
|