ITEC Brings Magic to Brazil
ITEC, IBM’s AS/400 distributor in Brazil, has selected Magic Software Enterprises Inc.(Irvine, Calif.), to build internal business applications for its midrange computers. These Magic-based applications will be developed by ITEC professionals with the support of Repullo Associates, Magic’s representative in Brazil. The products are scheduled to become operational during the second quarter of 1999.
Beginning in July of 1998, ITEC began a lengthy evaluation process comparing Magic's offerings against other AS/400 development tools such as Delphi, Progress and Genexus. ITEC chose Magic in the end for its ability to integrate with existing applications and to directly access data on the AS/400, according to published reports.
“ITEC was looking for a development environment that would be easy to learn and that would provide rapid results in creating applications to interface with the AS/400’s ERP system, SSA-BPCS,” says Alvaro Caputo, director of ITEC. “In both cases, Magic surpassed all other development tools in the market.”
Under terms of the deal, Magic has agreed to provide the following services: a Magic introduction and instructional kit that ITEC wants to include with each shipment of a new AS/400 in Brazil; incentives for participation in Magic University training; and an invitation to participate in a special AS/400 session to take place later this year in Brazil.
In exchange for providing these services, a Magic CD will be shipped with each new AS/400 that ITEC sells.
There are approximately 1,000 companies operating AS400s in Brazil. “The AS/400 market represents a major part of Magic’s total revenues,” says Jack Dunietz, CEO of Magic. “It’s an area where Magic’s ability to complement and co-exist with native AS/400 applications and its unparalleled productivity provide some significant competitive advantages. We looking forward to working with ITEC to expand the AS/400 market in Brazil.
--J. Martin