Nokia, IBM help workers stay connected
After 12 months of collaboration, Nokia and Big Blue have launched the eOffice mobile pack, comprising products from both companies.
The mobile pack consists of an IBM eServer xSeries 236, two Nokia 9300 smartphones and a 50-user starter kit of IBM WebSphere Everyplace Access (WEA) software.
The IBM WEA client software, together with the Nokia 9300 smartphone, enables a worker to gain remote access to his or her e-mail and document attachments, personal information manager (PIM) data, instant messaging and business applications.
Daniel Lee, general manager, enterprise mobility solutions division, Nokia Enterprise Solutions, said that the mobile pack helps an SMB enhance productivity and improve customer service as employees will be equipped to work from any where.
Despite the advantages of having a more mobile workforce, he noted, many SMBs may not have the resources to go mobile.
"IT cost is a perennial challenge faced by SMBs. The industry will continue to see vendors such as Nokia and IBM increasingly working closely together to offer affordable bundled IT solutions that are tailored for SMBs," Lee said.
The bundle is currently only available in Singapore, but there are plans for a regional roll-out in the near future, he added.
Azure Technologies and Ingram Micro are offering the eOffice Mobile Pack at a promotional price starting from US$19,998. The promotion is valid till Sept. 30, 2005 or while stocks last.