IBM Global Financing has launched a new
programme in Europe, specifically aimed at Oracle-Sun and HP
customers.
The programme is designed to allow easy
migration to IBM Power servers and is similar to one launched in
the US in September.
Carmen Ene, vice president of IBM Global
Financing for north-east Europe, said: “There have been issues that
have created a great level of uncertainty in the minds of
customers.
“What we’ve done is to invest in our
technology products and our offering. We stood by our business
partners and our clients. We’re bringing a level of certainty with
this programme.”
HP and Oracle have both been involved in high
profile lawsuits recently and both have received criticism for
their choices of new hires.
The IBM scheme, available throughout Europe,
allows customers to defer payment until 2011, followed by a
39-month contract, at the end of which they can decide whether to
keep the equipment.
Ene said: “We can remove equipment and if it
has market value, we can realise that and return it to the
client.”
The programme can also be bundled with
software and storage, she said.
Dan Ransdell, general manager of IBM Global
Financing for North America, said: “We are hearing from clients
that they are worried about fuzzy, uncertain product roadmaps and
rising maintenance fees from other IT manufacturers.
“They can easily switch to IBM’s latest
workload optimised systems with leasing and an upgrade plan that
protects against technology obsolescence.”
