New IBM PC management software saves time for Middle East IT managers

The software is now available directly to corporations for the first time, offering a cost-effective solution to a problem that has plagued IT departments for years - the time and resources required to install and manage both the physical PCs and the users' software and settings.

Managing the software image (a "snapshot" of all of a computer's current installed software, operating system, settings, preferences) on individual PCs can be a costly and frustrating problem for IT professionals, especially as many corporates need to have specific settings to ensure Arabic applications run smoothly. As the software image gets more complex across a large enterprise, image management consumes ever- greater amounts of human and financial resources.
ImageUltra Builder helps minimize time used by IT managers juggling thousands of images stored on their company's computers and can lower the organization's total cost of ownership by up to $100 per PC.

IBM manageability technologies have saved some corporate customers up to 25 percent of the Total Cost of Ownership over a PC's lifetime. Now, IBM offers IT staff in the Middle East the opportunity to save time and money and keep their custom imaging processes in-house by installing ImageUltra Builder.

ImageUltra Builder works with industry-standard deployment tools, such as Microsoft (R) Sysprep, enhancing an IT department's ability to support a broad variety of IBM ThinkPad notebook and IBM NetVista desktop model types.

"Managing images can be a complex and time consuming task, especially for IT departments in large organisations in this region. Network administrators spend endless hours setting up multiple machines with all the language, application and other settings unique to their company, and this results in lost time and productivity," said Sameh Farid, regional manager, personal systems group, IBM Middle East. "With IBM's Universal Manageability tools and patented ImageUltra technologies, ImageUltra Builder offers our customers a toolkit to do their image management in-house, while simplifying and managing their custom imaging processes. "

ImageUltra Builder will deliver greater flexibility to organizations and address most of the major problems associated with image management. The software can be used in many ways, including automating software application installation; easing the transition to a new operating system; reducing the number of custom images through consolidation; creating a custom image that will remain stable over time; and maintaining one image that can work across multiple IBM PCs.

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