Top Middle East business partners and customers to visit IBM Software Symposium 2003 in Munich

This uniquely designed five-day event will allow customers, business partners and developers from Europe and the Middle East to access the latest industry insight and learn more about the constantly evolving world of IBM's industry-leading e-business software portfolio, including IBM's WebSphere, DB2 Information Integration, Lotus, Tivoli and Rational software. Rational Software will be on the agenda for the first time at the annual event, where it joins the existing four IBM software brands as an important element of the e-business on demand offering.

"This event is a fantastic opportunity to gather our key Middle East customers, take them to one of our key business centres in Germany, and give them an in-depth briefing on how they can efficiently build, integrate and manage their own e-business infrastructures, and realise 'e-business on demand' within their own enterprises. IBM Software Group, with the WebSphere, DB2 Information Integration, Lotus, Tivoli and Rational brands, plays a pivotal role in turning IBM's e-business on demand strategy into real customer solutions - right now," said Bashar Kilani, software group manager, IBM Middle East and North/West Africa. "We believe that the insights our customers and business partners will gain into the latest industry technologies and business issues such as Linux, open standards, portal technology and application integration will be very important in helping them make the right strategic decisions."

In more than 300 presentations, visitors of the Software Symposium can get a deep insight into all new trends of software development, strategy and solutions and a thorough overview of the entire portfolio of IBM Software. Participants will also have the opportunity to get a free technical certification and attend various workshops. Workflows in the respective companies can be optimised considerably by these additional qualifications.

One of the keynote speakers of the IBM Software Symposium is Steve Mills, senior vice president and group executive for IBM Software. Several evening events round out the programme and present attendees the opportunity to meet with IBM employees, business partners and customers.

IBM Software Symposium takes place in the International Congress Centre Munich (ICM).