Vendor Spotlight:

IBM ANNOUNCES FLEXIBLE SERVER PRICING FOR eSERVER i5 SYSTEMS

IBM announced that it will provide new pricing options for customers purchasing the IBM eServer i5, delivering unprecedented flexibility for eServer iSeries clients who are simplifying their IT infrastructure by running multiple operating systems on a single server.

The new options will provide outstanding value for clients deploying new workloads on IBM i5/OS, and provide maximum choice for those clients who want to mix and match multiple operating systems. With this new pricing model, IBM provides clients with exceptional flexibility to buy the amount and type of processing power they need and pay as they grow.

Now for example, clients can buy a 16-way eServer i5 570 with four processors for i5/OS and mix and match the remaining processors for AIX 5L and Linux workloads. In addition, the eServer i5 570 server's modular design allows scalable growth and options to access additional processor capacity with Capacity on Demand.

The eServer i5 system, fueled with POWER5 microprocessors and Virtualization Engine technology, is the next generation in the iSeries family of servers. With Micro-Partitioning and support for multiple operating systems including IBM i5/OS, Linux, AIX 5L and Windows, clients are turning to the eServer i5 system to deploy new workloads and simplify their IT infrastructure.

"This is a breakthrough in flexible pricing for on demand computing and a valuable extension to our new economic model," said Al Zollar, general manager, IBM eServer iSeries, Systems and Technology Group. "The new pricing options will help our clients more easily choose the right technology and operating systems to grow their business as application needs evolve."

About IBM

IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from across IBM and key IBM Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that enable customers, large and small, to take full advantage of the new era of e-business. For more information about IBM, visit http://www.ibm.com. For more information on IBM's on demand strategy, visit http://www.ibm.com/ondemand.