IBM Global Financing to Provide Funding for New IBM Server Line

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Apr 2008: Web 2.0 Expo – IBM Global Financing, the lending and leasing business segment of IBM (NYSE:IBM) today announced financing opportunities to help customers access an entire new category of servers uniquely designed to address the technology needs of companies that use Web 2.0-style computing to operate massive data centers with tens of thousands of servers.
The recently announced IBM “iDataPlex” system leverages IBM’s blade server heritage to build a completely new design point that:

* More than doubles the number of systems that can run in a single rack,
* Uses 40 percent less power while increasing the amount of computing that can be done on single system 5X,
* Can be outfitted with a liquid cooling wall on the back of the system that enables it to run at “room temperature” -- no air conditioning required,
* Uses all industry standard components as well as open source software such as Linux to lower costs.

“IBM Global Financing offers an end-to-end solution for customers looking to access the new IBM iDataplex technology,” said John Callies, general manager of IBM Global Financing. “From acquisition to disposal, IBM Global Financing can be there to help Web 2.0 customers and other segments with high performance environments access these benefits.”

IBM Global Financing is uniquely positioned to offer customers looking to access the IBM iDataPlex system attractive lease rates because of its ability to capture high residual value in the secondary market for these new servers. Customers in the US can also benefit from additional benefits received under the US Economic Stimulus Advantage offering developed by IBM Global Financing. Under this offering announced earlier this year, US customers acquiring the IBM iDataPlex system in 2008 can benefit from either enhanced rates or a free 3 month deferral on leases.

IBM Global Financing will also help clients accessing this technology spread the costs of these servers and the software and services needed to implement them flexibly over time. IBM Global Financing’s Project Financing offerings will help match costs to benefits, with low upfront payments during the install process, that will ramp as the benefits achieved from the new technology begins to be realized. This is a significant benefit for CEOs and CFOs looking to manage costs while simultaneously funding innovation.

Customers looking to replace their existing data center equipment with the new iDataPlex technology can also benefit from IBM Global Asset Recovery Services, which can manage the disposal of equipment in accordance with environmental regulations, paying special attention to the security of the data contained on the hard drive.