IBM Announces WebSphere-Express

IBM is aiming a specially designed portfolio of its already successful WebSphere products at the mid-market, that is, for companies with 100 to 1,000 employees.

Based on its popular WebSphere product line, IBM has created products that are priced sharply lower to appeal to the mid-market and the distribution channels that service it.  Moreover, these products are designed to allow mid-market customers and their business partners to easily and quickly deploy e-business applications.  Companies at this level of the market are rarely interested in spending the time or money for large scale, heavily customized applications.  They want quick, reliable business solutions.

The products make extensive use of open standards, permitting customers existing investments in applications and data to be readily integrated.  Of course, fully integrated web-based applications are a hallmark of well-designed e-business systems, able to respond flexibly to dynamic market conditions.

Compatibility between WebSphere-Express and other offerings in the WebSphere family permit customers to start with easy, quick solutions that can grow as needed.  The cost of entry is much lower, while still securing a sound platform for future growth.

It’s A High Value Proposition 

The price is the surprise factor here.  IBM has priced WebSphere-Express two ways – both appealing.  It may be purchased for $25 per (named) user for smaller implementations or $2,000 per CPU for an unlimited number of users.  Since this includes application server, development tools, templates, support, and maintenance, the offering is significantly less expensive than competitive products. 

Tools use the latest Web Services standards for Java and XML and include a visual page designer, animation tools, and connection tools for back-office applications and data.  It also includes wizards, templates, and step-by-step developer "guides" to make even novice or non-Java-savvy programmers highly productive. The product supports the Linux, iSeries, and Windows platforms.

IBM believes that the success of a mid-market product is not just about technology, but also about distribution partnerships, with mid-market customers preferring to purchase solutions rather than technology products.  Therefore, an important component of the WebSphere-Express program is an array of partner programs and incentives, including:

	Express partner pack which bundles education, training, and porting assistance.
	Five free WebSphere Application Server - Express licenses to resell to help facilitate customer pilots
	On-line mentoring, demand generation programs that include "call-me" buttons to link partner solutions to telesales specialists, and advanced direct marketing services.

The program is open to any Business Partner building applications on a WebSphere - Express product.

The Rest Of The WebSphere-Express Family

Other members of the WebSphere-Express family include WebSphere Portal-Express, portal development and deployment software for the mid-market, and WebSphere Business Connection-Express, an entry-level edition of software for business-to-business process integration and data sharing among trading partners.

IBM WebSphere Portal Server - Express (previously announced) is currently available at $77 per (named) intranet user, or $30,000 per processor for an unlimited number of users in an extranet environment.  A Plus version of IBM WebSphere Portal Server - Express is currently available at $122 per (named) intranet user, or $47,820 per processor for an unlimited number of users in an extranet environment.

IBM WebSphere Business Connection - Express (previously announced) is available at $5,000 per processor which includes the ability to connect to 10 trading partners.

IBM WebSphere – Express has its own website for additional information at ibm.com/websphere/express.   

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