Looks like things are hotting up!
After the recent formation of IBM’s Integrated Partner Team (IPT) which has been focused on channel development in the SMB space for servers and storage, IBM look like they are stepping up a gear. I recently received an email via PartnerWorld from Ravi Marwaha (GM IBM Global Business Partners), which essentially said that IBM would be combining software products and services in an attach strategy to their hardware specifically for the SMB Market. In the email it says the SMB segment is the fastest growing market for IT with growth of 6.7% year on year and valued at $487 billion worldwide.
I’ve said for a long time that IBM is the only realistic competitor to Microsoft in the SMB Market with the products and services to match it in things like messaging, collaboration and systems management. If I were IBM, I’d start by getting an offering based on Domino Server/Lotus Notes and make it extremely affordable and easy to install combined with Tivoli Systems Management. It’ll be interesting to see what offerings they actually come out with and whether they can actually get their head around small businesses! I think the penny might be dropping for IBM, that Microsoft has stolen a big march on them in SMB.
I know how much these two companies like each other 
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July 22nd, 2007 at 8:31 pm
The interesting, or at least winning, strategy for Microsoft in SMB has been the fact that the servers have been easy enough to install without a lot of skill. Similar concept has been ridiculously successful for Apple in both the desktop and now smartphone worlds.
For IBM to have a chance in hell it would have to make these servers idiot proof, cheap and address the areas that Microsoft is refusing to (and is adequately moving to the upper markets); As I see it, competitors have maybe 2… perhaps 3 years left to live before SharePoint proprietary technology completely changes the user-facing concept of file sharing. Once that is done I doubt any other entity will be able to hold a candle to Microsft and they will adjust the pricing accordingly.
-Vlad
July 22nd, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Vlad, I agree with you on that. IBM has their Workplace Services Express which is the equivalent of Sharepoint Services but who has heard of the former? I’m wondering how much Linux is going to be a push in this? Initially, when I was focused on Linux, IBM was saying we should target NT4 installations and replace with Linux running Samba. I think they have to get a whole lot more sophisticated than this and look at the problems that something like SBS 2003 or Centro is solving or going to be solving! Telling people to go use Websphere is just way over the top for most SMBs.
July 31st, 2007 at 10:50 pm
[...] Vijay posted recently about IBM’s latest strategy to move into the SMB market, and how we all scoffed [...]