IBM announced the availability of 'IBM Smart Business,' a way for small and
medium businesses to acquire, use and manage technology that is radically
simple. IBM Smart Business will be available in India from November 21, 2008.
It includes Smart Market, a web-enabled, one-stop SMB marketplace clients can
use to browse, rate and buy solutions or collaborate with other clients,
industry experts and vendors from around the world; Smart Cube, a secure,
turn-key computer designed to deliver integrated solutions directly to the
client. Smart Cubes install and connect users to Smart Market within minutes and
Smart Desk, a web-enabled dashboard that clients can use as a
single-point-of-contact for Smart Business maintenance, from updating
applications automatically or subscribing to an on-demand service.
Two years ago as part of IBM 'Innovation Jam,' the largest online brainstorm
ever held, more than 1,50,000 people from over 100 countries converged to
discuss ways in which technology could enable advancements in everyday life. One
of the biggest issues identified was the tremendous need to make IT less complex
for small and medium businesses.
IBM's answer to this issue will get its first market test in the
entrepreneurial Indian marketplace, which boasts more than 35 million small and
medium businesses. With the introduction of Smart Business, IBM aims to fuel the
growth of these businesses by delivering ready-to-use IT that is easy to
implement, operate and grow.
IBM Smart Business delivers:
- A pre-integrated solution with all the fundamental technology required to
run a business with no manuals required - Access to a web-based community and marketplace to acquire new business
applications, and web-delivered collaborative services immediately ready to
support a business, such as access to remote (cloud-based) application
services like managed security and hosted back-up and recovery - A single point of contact for service and support
“We will deliver the industry's most desirable IT experience for small and
medium business-delighting our clients with a wide choice of optimized
applications; powerful, industry-standard business systems with built-in
security and business resiliency; and a single point of contact for service and
support,” said Ramesh Narasimhan, Director-General Business, IBM India/South
Asia.