Enterprise Server Support Extended to Netfinity
IBM has launched the Netfinity Direct program, offering Netfinity customers some of the same fulfillment and product support options that customers of other enterprise servers, such as the AS/400 and RS/6000, get.
Netfinity Direct offers an acquisition and support alternative for end-users who rely on Intel-based servers for their mission-critical applications.
Depending on their requirements, customers may now qualify to have Netfinity -- an IBM PC server that runs Windows NT -- fulfilled and supported by IBM directly or continue to go through an IBM reseller.
ìIBM firmly believes that our Business Partners provide the best Netfinity solutions for the majority of customers, including highly qualified, comprehensive and cost-effective service and support,î says David Thomas, senior VP and group executive, IBM Personal Systems Group. ìHowever, we are also determined to satisfy the needs of those customers who consider a direct relationship with their server vendor to be critical to their enterprise computing needs.î
In tandem with this announcement, IBM has expanded its Advanced Fulfillment Initiative (AFI) to further reduce reseller channel inventories and deliver more aggressive pricing for all Personal Systems products, while increasing the speed of delivery to customers. Channel terms and conditions have been changed and overall channel distribution costs have been reduced.