IBM changes its Linux approach, focusing on customers

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: PHIL HOCHMUTH ON LINUX
08/17/05
Today's focus: IBM changes its Linux approach, focusing on
customers

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* IBM takes vertical market approach to Linux sales
* Links related to Linux
* Featured reader resource
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Today's focus: IBM changes its Linux approach, focusing on
customers

By Phil Hochmuth

Of the major vendor news that came out of LinxWorld last week -
one of the more interesting items - was not product-related but
a new strategy that IBM is adopting in how it delivers open
source and Linux technology to customers.

Rather than just making machines that run Linux for every type
of customer, IBM is taking a vertical-market approach, with new
product offerings that focus on specific industries, while tying
into IBM's On Demand push. Some of the areas IBM is focusing on
include automotive, retail and banking.

For the automotive industry, IBM is offering something it calls
Infrastructure for Automotive Common Environment (ACE), which
includes Linux technologies geared at automotive design and
production. For retail, its Total Store Solutions - a package
that includes Linux PCs and servers built for point-of-sale,
self-checkout and store inventory management tasks, with
third-party wireless and other technologies included. In the
finance realm, IBM is offering Front Office Optimization for
Banking. This package includes Linux-based server and PC
applications that cover all aspects of running a bank, from
teller position machines to customer service call centers and
other areas.

Behind these industry-specific initiatives, IBM says it is
dedicating 7,000 Linux integrators as well as aspects of its
Global Services arm and Linux development teams in its eServer,
storage and middleware technology groups. This vertical-market
approach should open up the idea of Linux to more companies in
specific industries that may be locked into the kind of
proprietary, all-in-one systems that banks, stores and
manufacturers have been used to using in the past.

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Cisco to juice 6500 switch
<http://www.networkworld.com/nllinux5291>

2. Google goes berserk
<http://www.networkworld.com/nllinux5292>

3. Test: CipherTrust tops encryption field
<http://www.networkworld.com/nllinux5293>

4. IT staff shortage looming
<http://www.networkworld.com/nllinux5294>

5. Cisco to double Catalyst 6500 switch capacity in coming
months, report says
<http://www.networkworld.com/nllinux5028>

Today's most-forwarded story:

Cisco to juice 6500 switch
<http://www.networkworld.com/nllinux5295>
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Phil Hochmuth

Phil Hochmuth is a Network World Senior Editor and a former
systems integrator. You can reach him at
<mailto:phochmut@nww.com>.
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Global Knowledge

Global Knowledge is giving away a free course of your choice in
the RHCE Certification track. Recently rated number one in
quality of tests/exams, overall educational quality and overall
quality, no wonder the RHCE is considered the "crown jewel" of
Linux training. Register to win a free course today.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110607
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Breaking Linux news from Network World and around the 'Net,
updated daily: http://www.networkworld.com/topics/linux.html

Archive of the Linux newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/linux/index.html
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