IBM launches next-generation mainframe for mid-sized customers.

Designed as a powerful, entry-level version of the IBM System z10 Enterprise Class (z10 EC) mainframe announced earlier this year, the IBM z10 BC provides mid-sized clients with all the unique attributes of an IBM mainframe.  For example, mid sized companies and those in hot industries (such as social networking or mobile commerce) - can now obtain IBM's flagship mainframe technology at a more affordable price.

For customers seeking server consolidation options to cut costs, the IBM z10 BC delivers the capacity of up to 232 x86 servers, with 83% smaller footprint, up to 93% lower energy costs, and a much higher level of security, control and automation - allowing for up to 100% utilization. 

Clients can also look to the IBM z10 BC as one of the industry's most flexible architectures for today's newest business and consumer applications, which are often created on different operating systems and various programming languages.  With up to 130 capacity settings for running permanent and temporary workloads such as application hosting or testing efforts, the IBM z10 BC can give administrators an upgradeable system even if the business grows aggressively.  For peak seasons, administrators can temporarily increase the system's capacity for cost management.  The IBM z10 BC also offers unique processors known as "specialty engines" that expand the use of the mainframe for popular SAP, Linux, Java applications, among others.  With the IBM z10 BC operating as the company's IT engine, business leaders will welcome the potential cost savings from using current in-house staff for revenue-generating IT initiatives, such as application deployment.

From a performance standpoint, the IBM z10 BC is nearly 40% faster, has over 50% more total capacity and nearly four times the maximum memory compared to its predecessor, the largest IBM z9 BC.  Continuing with the lineage of the IBM System z10 EC, the new IBM z10 BC holds most of the same technology innovations as the EC model - such as the Enterprise Quad Core z10 processor chip with hardware accelerators and cryptographic functions that are highly useful for commercial and financial applications. 

For more general but critical workloads like email, the IBM z10 BC can support an incremental 1,000 e-mail users with the energy of a 100 watt light bulb.  Specifically, IT simply activates one Domino "specialty engine" for up to 7,500 users.  More importantly, both IT managers and end users will welcome the mainframe's stellar availability and security benefits for seamless and fast email communications. 

"With the current economic situation and highly competitive environment, many mid-sized companies find it inevitable to increase their productivity, operational efficiency and cut costs in order to survive and remain competitive" said Tanapong Ittisakulchai, country manager, Systems and Technology Group, IBM Thailand.   "To be able to beat the competition and overcome all the challenges, these mid-sized organizations need a tool that is not only smart and powerful but also affordable. With the introduction of IBM System z10 BC today, we are confident that these customers can now take advantage of the legendary reliability, security of IBM mainframe, which has long been enjoyed by many top-notch businesses for decades, and even be equipped with the right tool to excel their competition" added Tanapong.

Mid-Sized Clients Embrace The New Mainframe

Today's news comes on the heels of IBM's recent midmarket findings from the IBM Global CEO Study, the largest study of 1,130 chief executives ever conducted across 40 countries. The study noted that 9 out of 10 midmarket CEOs expect dramatic change, and 75% are changing business models to go global, drive growth and attract new customers.  As a highly-efficient and flexible computing system, the IBM z10 BC is an ideal platform for growth and can easily scale to accommodate rapid expansion. 

Mainframe Momentum Spurs Business Partner, System Integrator, ISV and Education Growth

To support the growth around the IBM System z platform, interest from business partners, system integrators and ISV's continues to grow in 2008.  New milestones unveiled today as part of the IBM z10 BC launch include:   

• For 2008, 600 new applications were introduced for the System z mainframe bringing the total to more than 5,000 unique applications available on the System z platform - of which nearly 2,500 are Linux-based; 

• More than 1,400 Independent Software Vendors (ISV) worldwide are developing applications for IBM System z; 

• As of the announcement date, IBM is working with more than 130 business partners and systems integrators worldwide, who are certified to sell IBM System z mainframes.  Certification of IBM System z sales and technician skills has increased 300% comparing the 1st half of 2007 to the 1st half of 2008.  Seventy percent of z10 BC sales are expected to come through IBM channel partners worldwide. 

• To continue to inject the industry with an ongoing pool of young talent, IBM today also announced it has surpassed more than 500 schools worldwide teaching and using IBM System z from the Academic Initiative - up from just 24 schools in 2004.  For the past four years, more than 50,000 students have participated mainframe education and nearly 10,000 entrants have competed in Student Mainframe Contests. For more information about the program, see http://www.ibm.com/university/systemz .

IBM Storage News

IBM today announced next generation information infrastructure offerings DS8000 disk storage and TS7700 tape storage, to work in conjunction with the new IBM System z10 Business Class mainframe, helping customers simplify their storage infrastructures, support business continuity, safeguard their information and extract more value from their System z environments. More information can be found here: http://www.ibm.com/systems/storage/news/press/20081021.html