IBM Destination z, a new community consisting of IBM Business Partners, Colleges and Universities, User Groups, and other supporting organizations approaches its first anniversary!
On June 21, 2007, IBM launched IBM Destination z with 21 founding members to highlight the strength of the ecosystem around the modern mainframe platform.
Visit the IBM Destination z website at http://www.ibm.com/Systems/z/Destinationz to see how this community has grown and the value it brings to its members and clients.
Meanwhile, more 1,500 IBM System z9 and IBM System z10 EC Business Partners deliver business value and flexibility of choice with additional applications, services, and support to clients world wide.
More than 1,200 System z independent software vendors (ISVs) provide applications, middleware, tools, and utilities for both z/OS® and Linux® to meet mainframe customers' business requirements. Add to that scores of consultants and system integrators across all industries worldwide who have built, deployed, and/or supported solutions on the mainframe and hundreds of solution providers who provide value-add solutions, services, and support — many of these partners working together in a true partner ecosystem.
To support this partner ecosystem, IBM continues to invest in education, enablement, go-to-market and other benefits for our partners. For example, IBM has introduced and updated both a sales and technical certification program to give you confidence in the partners you work with and buy from. IBM and its partners and customers alike benefit from these certifications through their validation of partners' skills and proficiency in the latest System z9 and z10 EC technology and solutions. The certifications also provide IBM a fair and consistent way of administering and assessing the partners' skills. Most importantly, customers gain peace of mind from a dedicated, loyal, and well-skilled ecosystem of mainframe professionals and the solutions they deliver. In addition, IBM continues to increase its investment in porting, benchmarking of software, and hardware testing.
- IBM has 90,000 Business Partners worldwide
- Over 1,200 ISVs build, sell, and support their software on System z9 and System z10 EC technology for both z/OS and Linux
- The number of ISV applications continues to grow by double digits year over year
- On average 50 ISVs and 150 applications per year move to System z
- For Linux alone, there are 240 software developers with 600 System z applications, over 40% growth
- There are over 100 solution providers/resellers supporting System z worldwide
- IBM revenue from consultants and system integrators has grown in double digits on average over the last three years
- Strategic partnerships continue to develop in many areas, including Business Intelligence and Security
Ongoing work to extend the mainframe partner ecosystem includes the following:
- Further growth of IBM Destination z
- Partner councils and other feedback forums
- Early validation and pre-announcement information
- Remote access to technology
- Porting and GTM benefits
- Benchmarking and compatibility testing
- ServerProven rebates to IBM customers for ISV new workload applications
- Speeding access to information for IBM Business Partners
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