Easy to buy, install and use; IBM Software Servers provide open, integrated solutions.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 27, 1996--IBM today launched the IBM Software Servers, an integrated series of leading IBM and Lotus software solutions for Internet access, data management, collaborative computing and more.

The IBM Software Servers are a set of software services designed to help customers and partners develop applications easier and more efficiently, reducing costs and time to market and improving reliability and service. Previously known under the code name "Project Eagle", the IBM Software Servers bring together more than 50 proven IBM and Lotus software products for workstation and LAN environments into seven integrated offerings, providing streamlined packaging and pricing, and simplified installation and administration -- making it easy for customers, partners, resellers and corporate developers to buy and use IBM software.

IBM Software Server developer kits and support such as IBM's new SmoothStart Services further strengthen the offering.

The seven servers are:

Lotus Notes(b)

IBM Internet Connection Server

IBM Database Server

IBM Communications Server

IBM Directory & Security Server

IBM Systems Management Server 

IBM Transaction Server

More flexible and comprehensive than competitive offerings and available for a variety of operating environments, IBM Software Servers allow users to purchase each server individually, so they can buy what they need and add what they want ... when they want it. Pre-integration and testing ensure that the functions within servers are fully compatible and that the seven servers work together -- providing common client support and smooth information sharing.

Because most organizations operate in multi-platform environments, the seven servers will be available for OS/2(a), AIX(a) and Windows NT(c) platforms. They support industry standards through IBM's Open Blueprint and have open application programming interfaces (APIs) for linking to other vendors' products. The IBM Software Servers also run with third-party products that support industry standards.

"Our customers and partners tell us they want full-function software that adds the latest technologies and will help them implement client/server and network computing," said John M. Thompson, IBM senior vice president and group executive, Software Group. "They also want software that will allow them to build applications faster, work with what they have today and take them where they want to go tomorrow. IBM Software Servers are designed to meet these needs."

The Line-Up

The IBM Software Servers are:

Lotus Notes

The latest version of the industry's most popular messaging and groupware application -- Lotus Notes Release 4 -- allows users to communicate with colleagues, collaborate on projects and coordinate strategic business processes such as sales force automation, customer service, and product development. It provides a central access point for users to find, organize, and share information -- whether it's in a relational database, a transaction system, an e-mail message, a desktop application or on the Internet. Notes provides a secure, reliable and scalable environment to leverage and exploit the information stored on many of the IBM Software Servers, such as the Internet Connection, Database or Transaction Server.

As part of the IBM and Lotus Internet strategy, products like the InterNotes Web Publisher allow customers to publish Notes-based information directly onto the Web. Lotus Notes also provides complete Internet integration to allow users to easily locate and share Internet information through the InterNotes Web Navigator. Combined with an HTTP server, such as the IBM Internet Connection Server, Notes today provides a best-of-breed environment for developing, managing, and hosting collaborative business applications on the Web.

By the third quarter of 1996, Notes will natively support all key WWW protocols, such as HTTP, HTML, Java and JavaScript. In addition, Lotus will deliver business application frameworks designed specifically to leverage the power of Notes with the unprecedented reach of the World Wide Web. These frameworks can be customized by Lotus Business Partners and customers.

Internet Connection Server

The Internet Connection Server gives companies the foundation they need to access information on the Web more easily, conduct on-line business with confidence and build a presence on the Net -- allowing them to reach new customers and markets, provide better service, and improve competitiveness.

The Internet Connection Server is available in two versions, a base server that can be downloaded free of charge from the Internet and a secure server. The base Internet Connection Server helps companies create and post home pages, get browser access to remote sites, and link into their existing applications and environments such as DB2(a) or CICS(a) via standard APIs. The secure version includes security technologies like encryption and authentication to help manage transactions over the Web.

Database Server

Based on DB2, IBM's industry-leading relational database management software, along with additional IBM database tools, this server provides a database management system that helps workgroups or enterprises create, update and control their data environments -- and share high-quality data.

With the nature and size of data constantly evolving, this server is designed to support traditional data as well as multimedia and objects, provide World Wide Web support, and scale from kilobytes to terabytes of data.

Communications Server

Fundamental to today's client/server and network computing environments, the Communications Server provides the communications and networking management features to build global, heterogeneous networks -- spanning from PCs to mainframes.

Built on IBM's Communications Manager(a) and AnyNet(a) products, the Communications Server is a powerful gateway for connecting diverse applications and networks, providing flexibility while reducing network complexity and cost.

Support for SNA and TCP/IP as well as industry-based APIs allows companies running large networks with multiple protocols to add and connect new applications without impacting users or existing technologies. High-speed network support and advanced routing technology ensure a solid growth path to network-intensive applications like multimedia and collaborative computing.

Directory & Security Server

The IBM Directory & Security Server enables users to simplify the development, deployment and maintenance of applications across local and wide-area networks.

This server lets system administrators securely manage all their users and resources from one place -- simplifying administration and increasing productivity and efficiency. The Directory & Security Server is also designed to be an open offering through support for the Open Software Foundation's Distributed Computing Environment (DCE), a leading networking standard.

Systems Management Server

This server is designed to automate management functions for the desktop through the network, system, database and application components of multi-vendor distributed computing environments. Because it is a packaged version of a full enterprise-capable management system, Systems Management Server will bring commercial-quality management capabilities to enterprises large and small.

IBM's SystemView(a) for AIX will comprise the initial implementation of this server. Tivoli Systems, IBM's new systems management business unit, will soon announce enhanced management offerings as members of the IBM Software Server family. These offerings will take advantage of IBM's enterprise management strengths and Tivoli Systems' leading-edge distributed management technologies.

Transaction Server

Companies rely on IBM's market-leading CICS and Encina transaction processing products to take care of business. The Transaction Server combines these technologies to provide a secure and robust infrastructure for developing and deploying business-critical applications.

Users can depend on support for thousands of transactions per second, high response and availability rates and scalability from PCs to mainframes. Support for standard protocols and gateways to Notes and the Internet ensure that customers can link their transaction environment to key applications for groupware and database management as well as leverage electronic commerce opportunities.

IBM Software Servers in Action

The power of the individual IBM Software Servers is maximized when they play together. For example, a retailer could improve customer service by using the Database Server and Lotus Notes to store vital customer information and make it readily available to service representatives, while an Internet Connection Server can be used to create and operate an on-line catalog service. Order processing and fulfillment are streamlined using Transaction Server. An example of a customer leveraging the power of many of the technologies in IBM Software Servers today is Cartier, Inc. With over 21 stores throughout the US and Canada, Cartier is looking to the IBM solution to help process orders, handle customer inquiries and communicate with its employees.

"For Cartier the new IBM Software Servers provide us with all the tools we need including Database, Internet access, Lotus Notes, Directory & Security, and Transaction processing," said Tom Zingarella, director of technical services at Cartier, Inc. "It's all tightly integrated, and incredibly easy to install."

Teaming with Partners

IBM and Lotus are working closely with their business partners and the software developer community to bring IBM Software Servers to the marketplace.

"The IBM Software Server family will allow business partners and developers to quickly and easily implement solutions that incorporate client/server and network computing concepts," said Bill Reedy, vice president, integrated solutions marketing, IBM Software Group. "Its multi-platform design allows for rapid development of application solutions that can be used by a wide range of customers, regardless of the operating system they choose."

In addition to providing channel partners with simplified pricing, ordering, installation, and enhanced product training and support, IBM is instituting significant marketing efforts designed to generate qualified leads for channel partners. IBM is also opening up new services opportunities through training, certification and resource assistance for partners who sell, install or implement IBM Software Servers.

Software Spectrum, a global corporate reseller, appreciates the streamlined features of the IBM Software Servers and recognizes the potential benefit to customers. "The greatly reduced number of stock-keeping units (SKUs), simplified, modular portfolio and ease of integration will save time and help to increase customer satisfaction," said Roger King, vice president of sales and marketing. "By integrating and simplifying all these products, IBM is opening up great opportunities for us."

To help its channel partners take full advantage of opportunities, IBM's Business Enterprise Solutions Team (BESTeam(a)), an award-winning worldwide program, enables VARs, systems integrators, network integrators and consultants to support IBM desktop and workstation software solutions.

Solution developers will find the IBM Software Servers provide a modular set of application services that help build extended solutions or add the power of new technologies to current applications. And since the Software Servers support today's tools, like IBM's VisualAge(a), as well as other vendors tools, solution development can start immediately.

IBM also announced it is providing IBM Software Server developer kits for OS/2, AIX and NT -- expanding market opportunities for software providers and making it easier and more cost effective to create, port, test and maintain applications for multi-vendor environments.

International Availability, Services

Available today are all seven servers for AIX, five servers for OS/2 -- Lotus Notes, Communications, Database, Internet and Transaction -- and the Notes and Internet Connection servers for NT. The Systems Management and Directory & Security Servers for OS/2 and the Database Server for NT will be available in the first half of 1996. The remaining NT servers will be available by early 1997.

Availability of IBM Software Servers will include support for major European languages, Japanese, Korean and Chinese.

IBM's SmoothStart Services provide a complementary set of installation and training start-up services that accelerate the productive use of the IBM Software Servers. These multi-vendor support services include project management, planning, installation, configuration and skills transfer.

For More Information

For Internet users, IBM also offers complete information about the company, its products, services and technology on the World Wide Web. The IBM home page is at http://www.ibm.com. The fastest, easiest way to get information about IBM software is to go to the IBM Software home page at http://www.software.ibm.com, with IBM Software Servers information available at http://www.software.ibm.com/is /sw-servers/.

IBM, the world's largest software provider, creates, develops and manufactures the industry's most advanced information technologies, including computer systems, software, networking systems, storage devices and microelectronics.

(a) Indicates trademark or registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. (b) Lotus Notes is a registered trademark of Lotus Development Corporation. (c) Products or companies mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holder.

IBM SOFTWARE SERVER PRICING

OS/2 or NT Platform AIX Platform

Server Client Access Server Client Access

Communications Server $699 0/$49 $849 $69 Database Server $999 $149 $999 $149 Internet Server/Base 0/$99 0/$99 Lotus Notes $495 $55/69/275 $495 $55/69/275 Lotus Notes MP $2,295 $55/69/275 $2,295 $55/69/275 Transaction Server $699 $299 $2,999 $299

Directory/Security Server NA NA $4,700- 0

$17,350 Systems Management NA NA Server

- Communications Server -- No access charge, buy the client emulator of your choice. Optional distributed feature (network transport) charge ($49) is shown.

- Directory & Security Server for AIX -- Price varies based on processor size.

- Internet Server/Base -- No charge to download from the WWW, $99 charge if full shrinkwrap/documentation is ordered.

- Lotus Notes -- $55 client charge for cc Mail client, $69 client charge for full Notes desktop license, $275 full Notes.

- Systems Management Server -- Pricing depends upon which features are ordered.

CONTACT: Rick Bause

IBM Media Relations

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Internet: [e-mail]

or

Jennifer Surro

Brodeur & Partners Inc. for IBM

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Internet: [e-mail]