IBM Offers New Upgrade Services for OS/2 Customers

Announces Formation of Rapid Deployment Team

AUSTIN, July 15, 1997...IBM today announced the availability of a new services offering aimed at helping existing OS/2* customers upgrade to the latest versions of OS/2 Warp. Upgrading to OS/2 Warp 4 and OS/2 Warp Server gives customers the feature set they need to exploit the benefits of network computing.

The Rapid Deployment Team (RDT), a group of highly skilled OS/2 lab engineers, will work together with IBM Global Services professionals and selected BESTeam members to provide OS/2 customers around the world with the specialized talent and skills they need to make the upgrade process a smooth one. The RDT offers customized services in the areas of planning, application development, integration, testing, piloting and deployment. Using the services of the team saves customers time and money during the upgrade process.

"Upgrading to the latest versions of OS/2 Warp is the first step towards network computing," said Mike Lawrie, general manager, IBM Personal Software Products (PSP) division. "The Rapid Deployment Team, working as an extension of IBM Global Services and partnering with IBM BESTeam members, will provide customers with a level of OS/2 Warp expertise unmatched anywhere else in the industry."

IBM is encouraging users to migrate to the latest versions of OS/2 Warp, which are equipped for network computing, for a number of reasons.

The current versions of OS/2 Warp:

• Offer network computing features like support for Netscape Navigator**, Java*** 1.1, URLs and FTP servers represented as icons and folders on the desktop, a Lotus Notes mail client and the latest version of TCP/IP. Not only do customers have access to the latest network computing technologies, they still retain the capability to run their traditional OS/2 applications.
• Are fully supported and maintained by IBM, giving OS/2 Warp 4 and OS/2 Warp Server users a broad range of technical support.

OS/2 Warp 4 and OS/2 Warp Server users:

• Are eligible for the Software Advantage Program. OS/2 Warp users enrolled in the Software Advantage Program, who purchased an eligible upgrade protection offering, can utilize Software Choice, IBM|s new electronic software distribution program that offers product features and fixes via the World Wide Web or CD-ROM.

"Although there are clear benefits gained by upgrading to the latest version of OS/2 Warp, IS Executives we interview are frustrated with the time and resource costs involved in upgrading large numbers of desktop and server platforms. IBM has made a very smart and necessary move by providing their enterprise customers with access to a team of engineers skilled in quickly and effectively implementing the upgrade," said Robert Sakakeeny, (Aberdeen Group's Director of Field Research). "For customers who are on the fence about upgrading, this new services offering from IBM may give them the added push they need."

New Service Opportunities for IBM BESTeam Members

The Rapid Deployment Team is leveraging its partners and providing new sales and service opportunities to members of BESTeam, IBM's worldwide award-winning channel partner program for system and network integrators, value-added resellers and consultants. The RDT will generate demand; provide leads, enablement tools, education and support; and develop ongoing communication with the business partners. All business partners who are brought into accounts with the RDT are OS/2 Warp 4 and OS/2 Warp Server certified.

"This new services offering is not only good for OS/2 customers, but for IBM BESTeam members as well," said Richard Spurlock, vice president, Starfire Engineering and Technologies, Inc., a large OS/2 business partner. "By making these services available, IBM is demonstrating its commitment to OS/2 customers which makes upgrades to current and future PSP products a solid option. This partnership drives more business for my company and provides excellent solutions for the OS/2 customer."

Additional Services Offered by IBM|s Worldwide Technical Projects Business Unit

The services offered by the RDT are complementary to those of IBM's Worldwide Technical Project business unit. This business unit serves as a catalyst to OS/2*Warp customers in the design and development of custom, mission-critical, business applications based on network computing technologies. The newly formed unit has recently completed Java applets for CERA Bank of Belgium, and RBG of Germany and trained INSERTO AG, Switzerland|s largest OS/2 Warp reseller.

OS/2 customers interested in working with the Rapid Deployment Team should work through their IBM representative or business partner to obtain further information on the program. Pricing for services is determined on a per customer basis.

About the OS/2 Warp Family of Products

IBM is the largest software company in the world and is the home of the OS/2 Warp family of products. OS/2 Warp is an ideal operating system for today's network computing environments, offering customers a true cross-platform business solution that delivers on the promise of network computing. Within the OS/2 Warp family of products customers will find features such as Internet/intranet connectivity, integrated Java support and dependable systems management. The OS/2 Warp operating system is the foundation for this broad family of products, which includes OS/2 Warp, OS/2 Warp Connect, OS/2 Warp Server, OS/2 Warp Server SMP and the Directory and Security Server for OS/2, one of the IBM Software Servers.

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* IBM and OS/2 are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.
** Netscape and Netscape Navigator are trademarks of Netscape Communications Corp.
***Java is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.
All other product and service names may be trademarks and/or service marks of their respective owners.

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