IBM launches analytics systems; Courts Sun resellers with financing
IBM on Wednesday rolled out new analytics hardware systems and said it will offer $500 million in financing to help Sun Microsystems partners resell Big Blue's systems.
It's war kids.
Add it up and Big Blue's moves mean the following:
- IBM is targeting Oracle's Exadata machines and workload optimized systems.
- The company's financing arm is putting cash up to upend Sun's (now Oracle's) sales channel.
- IBM also said it will make tools like its profit optimizer application and working capital options available to Sun partners.
The IBM Smart Analytics System is designed to target verticals such as healthcare, financial services, energy and retail. Dubbed the IBM pureScale Application System with POWER7 technology and Smart Analytics Systems, Big Blue's tailored systems work in x86 and mainframe shops.
As for the product details, IBM's pureScale Application System combines POWER7-based servers with WebSphere Application Server and DB2 pureScale software to target transactional workloads. IBM mentioned utilities and smart grids as a target market.
In addition, IBM rolled out the Smart Analytics System 9600 with System z, and model 5600 with System x. These systems integrate server, storage software such as Cognos and services.
Related: Oracle's enemies of choice: IBM and SAP; Examining the prospects