IBM today announced the industry's first all-wireless line of products and services, making it easier for companies to extend their business to mobile devices.
As part of today's announcement, IBM is wirelessly enabling its lines of ThinkPad notebook computers, pervasive devices and servers. The company is also providing software, support and services to give customers mobile access to critical applications in the office, on the road, or anywhere in between. Additionally, IBM is adding programs to enable its network of 90,000 business partners to sell and develop wireless solutions.
"Wireless is having profound implications for e-business," said Michel Mayer, general manager of IBM's pervasive computing division. "The potential explosion of people and devices connecting to the network is driving the need for customers to build infrastructures that are massively scalable, more reliable and that possess more intelligence than they do today. This is IBM's sweet spot."
According to Gartner Group, in the next two to three years the average worker will use at least three devices on the job -- notebook computer, phone and handheld computer. These and future mobile devices will not only need to be outfitted with wireless capability, but integrated with existing IT infrastructures to take advantage of enterprise applications already in place.
This announcement builds on the significant investment IBM has made in developing and deploying wireless solutions over the past few years. According to Evans Data's 2001 Developer Survey, 75 percent of ISVs expect to deploy wireless applications by 2002. To meet this demand, IBM is also supporting the development of wireless applications by independent software vendors, with increased personnel and testing facilities at IBM Porting Centers for IBM's 58,000 developer partners.
"With today's announcement, IBM is staking a strong claim for leadership in the wireless space," said Andy Seybold, President of Outlook4Mobility. "The combination of a visionary strategy and innovative mobile products, along with IBM software and support gives mobile users a comprehensive product and services offering, clearly raising the bar for the rest of the industry."
IBM's new wireless infrastructure offerings include:
Wireless Portables: IBM has extended wireless capability across its ThinkPad and WorkPad lines. IBM Researchers developed a new innovative dual antenna design that places the antenna in the screen to provide IBM's wireless ThinkPads with integrated support for 802.11 wireless LANs, providing stronger(1) signal strength than that offered by other wireless integrated notebooks(2). Also available are two new sleek, slim IBM WorkPads -- including IBM's first handheld computer with a color display -- based on the Palm Computing platform.
Wireless Technology for IBM Servers: New and advanced remote wireless management technology is now available for IBM's eServer line. The IBM eServer Wireless Remote Management technology allows system administrators to wirelessly control servers from afar with common, portable devices like Internet phones, PDAs and Web browsers, as well as extend server applications to wireless devices.
Wireless Infrastructure Services: IBM Global Services is introducing a new "Instant Wireless LAN" service that helps companies quickly get up and running with wireless facilities. The service is a bundled hardware/software/installation package that wireless enables facilities for high-speed, reliable wireless data transport. This announcement extends the broad portfolio of IBM's existing wireless Services offerings to help companies of all sizes, across all industries, implement wireless e-business to enhance professional and operational productivity and improve customer relationship and supply chain management.
Wirelessly-Enabling Components: IBM, with Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, is developing advanced low-power microchips for third-generation (3G) cellular telephones. IBM will manufacture the components using its industry-leading silicon germanium (SiGe) communications chip technology, which Mitsubishi intends to incorporate into its next-generation cellular products.
Wireless Business Partners: IBM is announcing a variety of programs designed to bring its wireless solutions to market through the company's network of 90,000 Business Partner firms, which now drive on-third of IBM revenues. IBM will support the development of wireless applications by independent software vendors; and wireless education and training for solution providers on IBM hardware and software platforms, including WebSphere Everyplace Suite and Lotus Domino Everyplace Family software.
IBM also unveiled new customers that are using its wireless offerings to roll-out innovative applications. This summer the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas intends to use IBM eServer iSeries systems for a pilot to provide wireless check-in for guests -- eliminating the need to wait in line to receive room assignments, credit authorizations, room keys and receipts -- all from a handheld device. In addition, HypoVereinsbank, Germany's second largest bank, has developed a Linux-based system management concept for the IBM eServer z900 mainframe that continuously monitors system availability using Wireless WAP and PDAs to ensure 24 by 7 system uptime. Like any bank, IT system outages must be avoided under all circumstances. Using IBM wireless technology, IT administrators at the bank can respond quickly to system messages, improving customer satisfaction and productivity.
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