Ingram Micro to Distribute New IBM Smart Cube
July 01 2009 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
IBM Taps World's Largest Distributor to Launch New IBM Smart
Business Solution in U.S. SANTA ANA, Calif., July 1 /PRNewswire/ --
Delivering more value to channel partners, Ingram Micro Inc.
(NYSE:IM) today announced it has been selected as a distributor for
IBM Smart Cube, a key hardware and software platform of the new IBM
Smart Business solution recently launched by IBM in the U.S.
Available to authorized IBM, Ingram Micro channel partners in the
U.S., the new IBM Smart Business combines hardware, software and
technical support in a pre-integrated, automated appliance. The IBM
Smart Cube provides a wide range of business applications available
for download from the IBM Smart Market, for customers in a range of
industries including healthcare, telecommunications and
manufacturing. According to Scott Zahl, vice president, vendor
management, Ingram Micro North America, the agreement gives Ingram
Micro channel partners an opportunity to get in on the ground floor
with technology that will help ease the day-to-day back-office
operations for small and midsize businesses (SMBs). "IBM's Smart
Business appliance helps simplify many of the business applications
SMBs use today," says Zahl. "As a distributor for Smart Cube, we
are extremely pleased to help our channel partners build their IBM
business practices while gaining a competitive edge with this
exciting and new business-ready offering." IBM Smart Cube features
an innovative support system that responds proactively to assist
customers in resolving support issues. The system dynamically
alerts customers to common problems and quickly provides
suggestions to solve or circumvent issues, making it ideal for end
customer SMBs with limited IT support desk staffing. "The
requirements of small and medium businesses are unique - they need
to be as sophisticated as enterprise companies, but they are
limited by smaller IT staffs and fewer IT integration capabilities.
IBM Smart Business is able to provide a salve for this - a
breakthrough way for businesses to acquire, use and manage
technology that is radically simple," says Juhi Jotwani, vice
president, IBM Smart Business. "By partnering with Ingram Micro to
distribute this new offering through our joint Business Partners,
we will be reaching a broad market of small and medium sized
businesses." Ingram Micro channel partners will also benefit from
the simplified solution that Smart Business offers. Resellers can
order the system in a fully functional configuration with built-in
options and complete testing provided by IBM prior to shipment.
"This speeds the sales and implementation processes and allows
channel partners to concentrate on the overall solution -- not
integration time and expense," says Zahl. Initially, 18 Independent
Solution Vendors (ISVs) will be selling business applications for
Smart Business. More ISVs are being added monthly. Smart Cube
includes all of the fundamental business capabilities such as
email, calendaring, security and finances. Interested solution
providers can contact their Ingram Micro sales representative for
more information. About Ingram Micro As a vital link in the
technology value chain, Ingram Micro creates sales and
profitability opportunities for vendors and resellers through
unique marketing programs, outsourced logistics services, technical
support, financial services, and product aggregation and
distribution. The company serves 150 countries and is the only
broad-based global IT distributor with operations in Asia. Visit
http://www.ingrammicro.com/. DATASOURCE: Ingram Micro Inc. CONTACT:
Marie Meoli of WhiteFox Marketing & Communications,
+1-714-680-0335, , for Ingram Micro Inc. Web Site:
http://www.ingrammicro.com/
Copyright