IBM to revolutionise Middle East work places with new business software

As a result of the new software, people will be able to use virtually any client device they choose-across a wide range of operating systems such as Windows or Linux-to collaborate with colleagues to access and manage key business information and applications whenever and wherever they need it.

The move has met with a strong welcome from key analysts and customers in the Middle East: "IDC believes that IBM's upcoming announcement of its Lotus Workgroup software for application management on the desktop is an important one and has significant implications for the Middle East market...a differentiating factor that places IBM in a positive position is the fact that the software is designed to be accessible from systems running Windows and Macintosh, as well as Linux and Unix," commented Jyoti Lalchandani, regional director, IDC Middle East & North Africa.

IBM's new client model will enable customers to centrally manage and deploy key business applications and data to a range of devices in a secure, efficient and cost effective way. Aimed at both small and large organizations across the region, the strategy weaves together e-mail, collaboration software, IBM's Web portal, a small database, software for working on Web applications offline, and desktop-productivity applications including word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation manager-all of which can be accessed using a Web browser.

"This is a significant announcement we are making because it has the potential to make a big impact on the region's software market," says Bashar Kilani, head of software group, IBM Middle East. "It really completes the picture for customers. They can see an open platform for end-to-end computing needs."

IBM will be hosting an event for regional customers and business partners on 24th May to launch the new business software offerings and highlight details on the new client model that promises to bring a new model of 'choice' for enterprise desktops and a new direction for the region's software market. At the event, IBM will announce the newest versions of the rest of the Lotus Workplace product family: IBM Lotus Workplace Team Collaboration, IBM Lotus Workplace Collaborative Learning and IBM Lotus Workplace Web Content Management. A special session will also feature 'Lotus on the Linux platform' as the open-source phenomenon starts to take a strong hold in the Middle East.