IBM's PartnerWorld program dons a new look

IBM has once again made sweeping changes to its PartnerWorld program. The new
and improved PartnerWorld program now consolidates all four PartnerWorld
tracks-Software, Developers, Systems & Services, and Personal Systems into a
single PartnerWorld Program.

The unified PartnerWorld would mean streamlined access to the full breadth of
IBM's solutions and benefits for members. This is significant because
individual brands track no longer define Business Partners' relationship with
IBM. Support will now be aligned with industry-recognized business models,
including consultants, systems integrators, independent software vendors (ISVs)
and resellers.

"Our Business Partners have asked for simplicity, flexibility, and
streamlined access to benefits, which is what we have delivered with the new
PartnerWorld program," said Mukul Mathur, Country Manager of Business
Partners, IBM India. "Underpinning this transformation is our commitment to
help Business Partners improve their profit potential through their relationship
with IBM. The new PartnerWorld makes it easier for Business Partners to offer
the complete IBM portfolio and build solutions that clients need to become
on-demand businesses."

New program to be more simple, flexible and with streamlined access to benefits for partners' benefits Eric Wong

The program has a single sign-on membership, a common set of benefits and an
integrated IT infrastructure. "A single, streamlined benefits-rich program
now simplifies access to support and makes it much easier to do business with
IBM," said Eric Wong, Sr Manager, Business Partners Marketing, Asia
Pacific, IBM.

Implementation of the new simplified PartnerWorld Program is being done in
two phases. Phase 1, which IBM piloted in July 2004, is the integration of the
Program across the hardware, software and services offerings for resellers,
consultants and integrators. Of particular significance in Phase 1 is the
consolidation of the previously separate programs (PartnerWorld for Systems and
Services, PartnerWorld for Software and PartnerWorld for Personal Systems).
These will all be part of the integrated PartnerWorld Program with a single set
of criteria membership level (Member, Advanced and Premier) and a single set of
benefits and offerings.

Phase 2, which will complete in 2006, will be the integration of support
offerings for ISVs into a fully consolidated IBM PartnerWorld Program. For
Business Partners who want to team with IBM to provide highly valued solutions
to end-users, IBM PartnerWorld offers benefits, incentives and skills required
to do so.

For Business Partners who want a simplified way to work with IBM,
PartnerWorld offers a streamlined, single program with benefits, tools and
education-all designed to drive revenue, and increase our Business Partners'
potential for profit, lower administrative costs and streamline administrative
processes.

For Business Partners who sell cross-brand solutions, PartnerWorld provides
easy access to a broad range of benefits covering all brands and recognition for
the total contribution the Business Partner invests in IBM.

NELSON JOHNY