IBM announces Start Now program to promote Linux/e-business implementations

PRESS RELEASE -- IBM has introduced the IBM Start Now Solutions for e-business, a family of offerings to help small and medium businesses (SMB) rapidly implement e-business solutions.

The eight Start Now Solutions, including three Linux-based solutions, fulfill the requirements of e-business--from initial Internet access, through e-mail, research and information, Web site management, simple and complex e-commerce, business intelligence, integrated activities and new business opportunities.

These solutions, delivered by trained and qualified IBM Business Partners, include IBM software, suggested IBM e-Servers and services provided by IBM Business Partners. The Start Now Solutions program also includes a marketing and enablement program that provides Business Partners with a recommendation of software and hardware configurations, instructions for proposing, implementing and extending a complete solution, tested implementation scenarios, ISV tools and financing options.

For the first time, IBM will offer three new Linux-based Start Now solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. According to IDC, Linux is the fastest growing server operating system, with small businesses representing 48 percent of all Linux server installations. The three new solutions that support Linux include: IBM Start Now Infrastructure Solutions, IBM Start Now CRM Solutions and IBM Start Now Host Integration Solutions. Also new to the Start Now family is the inclusion of solutions based on Tivoli's web and storage management software. The inclusion of an ISV solution as a key component of one of the Start Now offerings also is new with the IBM Start Now CRM Solutions featuring Relavis eBusinessStreams eSales application.

IBM research confirms the fact that the opportunity growth rate of SMB exceeds that of large enterprises, at an average of 13 percent, and in some cases as high as 17 to 20 percent. According to studies from Gartner Group and Arthur Andersen, e-business adoption in SMB presents a large untapped opportunity with only 15 percent of the market having yet achieved simple e-commerce, and 5 percent having achieved complex e-commerce. Yet eMarketer 2000 predicts that by the year 2002, 72 percent of SMBs plan to adopt e-commerce solutions.

IBM Start Now Solutions for e-business include core solutions, which provide the platform needed to do business online; extensions, to move into the more sophisticated areas of business intelligence, collaboration and integration with host systems; and management solutions to optimize and secure a business' Web presence and data.

Start Now Infrastructure Solutions
IBM Infrastructure Start Now Infrastructure Solutions provide open, standard interfaces and protocols that allow systems to interoperate. They enable users to manage demanding databases and storage challenges, to develop Internet and intranet presence, to set up log on and registration procedures for customers and suppliers and to share information and data online. The Start Now Infrastructure Solutions are based on IBM DB2 Universal Database, IBM WebSphere e-infrastructure software, Lotus Domino Application Server R5, Lotus iNotes Client, and Lotus Sametime.

Start Now e-commerce Solutions
IBM Start Now e-commerce Solutions allow customers to browse catalogs, fill electronic shopping carts, make secure purchases and specify delivery instructions. Buyers can get assistance in real time and purchase in their own language and currency. The enabling technology is IBM WebSphere Commerce Suite, V5.

Start Now Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Solutions
IBM Start Now CRM Solutions focus on how customers interact with business through multiple channels, such as the online storefront, direct mail, the call center and the service center. It provides a blueprint for lowering the walls between the marketing, sales and service disciplines, and connecting them through flexible, Web-enabled applications. The solutions are based on Lotus Application Server R5, Lotus iNotes Client, Lotus Sametime and Relavis eBusinessStreams.

Start Now Business Intelligence Solutions
IBM Start Now Business Intelligence Solutions help customers analyze the business data they collect in order to gain an unprecedented level of knowledge about target markets and customer behavior, to build a complete profile of customers with valuable demographic information. They are based on IBM DB2 Universal Database V7, IBM DB2 Warehouse Manager V7, IBM Query Management Facility (QMF) and DB2 OLAP Starter Kit.

Start Now Collaboration Solutions
IBM Start Now Collaboration Solutions give the personal touch to e-business, enabling the real-time sharing, teaming and interaction that help solidify human relationships and build personalized communications and trust. Team members can communicate online with customers, provide answers to questions, offer assistance, process order forms, develop and negotiate contracts online, and resolve other problems that occur. The solutions are based on Lotus Sametime Server V2, Lotus QuickPlace V2 and Lotus Domino Application Server R5.

Start Now Host Integration Solutions
IBM Start Now Host Integration Solutions extend existing legacy host applications and data to the Internet and enables new e-business applications simply and securely. The solutions based on IBM Host Access Package V1 and IBM WebSphere Host Publisher V2.

Start Now Website Management Solutions
IBM Start Now Website Management solutions provide the tools needed to manage and optimize websites by identifying exposures, increasing availability and delivering enhanced performance. This solution uses Tivoli Web Services Manager and Tivoli Storage Manager.

Start Now Content Management Solutions
IBM Start Now Content Management Solutions are a web-ready portfolio of integrated software for managing and distributing digital content, when, where, and how it is needed; and for delivering it to those who need it most. The Start Now Content Management Solutions are based on IBM Content Manager Entry Bundle V7 and Content Manager CommonStore for Domino V7.

IBM Start Now Solutions are available immediately to Business Partners around the world. Suggested prices for Start Now Solutions start at $15,000 to $55,000.

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