IBM Spotlights Gov't, Insurance Sector ISVs

06/28/2004

IBM today unveiled new PartnerWorld Industry Networks for independent software vendors (ISVs) focused on the government and insurance industries. IBM also introduced new technical offerings and expanded initiatives designed to help ISVs participating in the PartnerWorld Industry Networks speed solution development and ensure interoperability with IBM's middleware portfolio.

IBM offered these details:

As part of IBM's $1 billion investment in ISV programs this year, the PartnerWorld Industry Networks provides ISVs with unmatched go-to-market sales support and technical resources that are specifically tailored to their industry requirements. Currently, IBM has Networks covering eight industries, with plans to introduce more throughout the year. Nearly 600 ISVs across 43 countries in the banking, financial markets, healthcare, life sciences, retail and telecommunications industries worldwide are already taking advantage of the Networks to team with IBM and bring joint solutions out to market faster and industry-by-industry, reflecting how customers are buying technology today.

New Government and Insurance Industry Networks State and local agencies will spend about $46 billion on IT in 2004, according to public-sector consultant Input. Federal spending will be about $70 billion. The hundreds of government departments and agencies worldwide require solutions tailored to meet regulations. Celent, a research and consulting firm, estimates that IT spending in the US insurance industry will be about $20.6 billion, and European insurance carriers will spend about 22.3 billion Euros in 2004. The insurance industry also has a wide range of requirements for applications that address different lines of business, and different business practices and regulations for each federal and local jurisdiction.

Recognizing that customers have diverse needs based on today's regulatory environment, the new government and insurance networks provide ISVs with a customized and single source of business insight, networking and collaboration, enablement blueprints and technical resources, and sales and marketing support benefits. Working together with IBM, ISVs can capitalize on this wide range of benefits to more effectively develop and market solutions to customers that meet government and insurance industry requirements.

For example, ISVs can apply to use IBM's Institute for e-Government and other industry briefing centers with IBM speakers to help close a joint customer opportunity. ISVs also have the opportunity to market their solutions to IBM and other business partner sales teams through IBM's insurance and government industry partner directories and solution catalogs.

Government and insurance industry ISVs worldwide who have committed to join the new Networks include: Corticon, DAON, Document Sciences Corporation, DWL, ESRI, E Team, FINEOS, Guidewire Software, Hamer Enterprises, Itemfield, MapInfo, Mitratech, Neighborhood America, Police Central, PureEdge, and Webify Solutions.

"The government and insurance sectors present a huge opportunity for ISVs to capture new revenue opportunities worldwide," said Buell Duncan, general manager, ISV & Developer Relations, IBM. "The new PartnerWorld Government and Insurance Industry Networks provide ISVs with the necessary resources and expertise to deliver customized solutions that are compliant with industry regulations and can help solve business challenges."

Introducing new technical enablement benefits ParnerWorld Industry Networks participants can now take advantage of additional resources to help speed vertical solution development:

--On demand architecture consultations - IBM eArchitects will conduct architecture reviews with ISVs via phone and provide direction on porting to the specified IBM technology. The consultations will be free of charge for a limited time.

--Access to IBM Innovation Centers for Business Partners - ISVs can take advantage of on-site and remote access to design, benchmarking, porting and enablement services at any of the 25 IBM Innovation Centers for Business Partners worldwide. This offer is available to the first 100 ISVs free of charge.

The enablement and marketing/sales benefits for PartnerWorld Industry Networks participants can help them gain new customers and increase profitability quickly and efficiently. The exact offerings vary by industry, based on what marketing tactics are most effective in each one. In addition, ISVs can earn access to an increasing number of benefits based on their level of integration with IBM's industry on demand solutions.

"Ready For" Application Validation program expands Available to all PartnerWorld Industry Networks participants, the "Ready for" application validation program enables ISVs to test their applications against pre-established technical criteria and ensure compatibility with IBM middleware. IBM has expanded the "Ready for" program and will be including Lotus Notes, Lotus Domino, DB2 Express, and WebSphere, providing ISVs with a means to ensure interoperability with additional IBM products to help them speed integration and customer implementation.

Through the "Ready for" program, IBM is providing technical assistance to ISVs and guiding them through the stages of application enablement to validation. Upon completion of product validation, ISVs will be able to display the "Ready for" logo in qualified offerings packaging, specifications and marketing materials to help accelerate market entry and differentiate themselves from competitors.

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