The FINANCIAL -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) on January 18 announced the immediate availability of IBM Client for Smart Work in India through business partners. The IBM Client for Smart Work, IBM and Canonical's popular cloud-and Linux-based desktop package, is designed to help companies do more with less and lower desktop computing costs by up to 50 percent.

CIO's, IT directors and IT architects from all types of organizations in India, even those that typically cannot afford new PCs, can now gain immediate access to collaboration capabilities to help them work smarter, with the simple download of the IBM Client for Smart Work onto various thin clients, such as netbooks and other devices.

“Government leaders, CEOs and CIOs are seeking an open, cost effective and collaboration rich client strategy to leapfrog into the 21st century,” said Pradeep Nair, director of IBM India Software Group. "The IBM Client for Smart Work solution brings together the strengths of cloud-based collaboration, virtual desktops, netbook devices and open source, supported by a strong ecosystem of business partners, to help Indian innovators harness the next wave of growth.”

"The collaboration package runs on Ubuntu Linux operating system available from Canonical and provides the option to deliver collaboration through the Web in a cloud service model. The Client comes with IBM Lotus Symphony, IBM LotusLive iNotes/Connections and IBM Lotus Notes/Domino, with the option to add IBM Lotus Connections and IBM WebSphere Portal, as well as virtual desktop capabilities using VERDE from Virtual Bridges," IBM reported.

With the mounting interest in this solution, IBM today also announced that Simmtronics Semiconductors will ship their new Simmbooks (netbooks) with IBM Client for Smart Work on Ubuntu already preloaded to clients in India, US, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, UK, and Vietnam.

"We launched Simmbooks based on the high demand for netbook type devices for enterprises worldwide," said Indrajit Sabharwal, managing director, Simmtronics Semiconductors. "Delivering Simmbooks with IBM Client for Smart Work on Ubuntu will help our customers lower their total cost of ownership and be on the forefront of innovation."

IBM is also establishing Academic Initiative Centers of Excellence on IBM Client for Smart Work and advanced analytics at Indian engineering colleges and universities, in partnership with Kerala Information Technology Alliance (KITA), a non-profit consortium based out of New York. This includes Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology, Saintgits College of Engineering, Kottayam and College of Engineering Chengannur in the State of Kerala.

KITA is collaborating with IBM, Zyxware Technologies and Canonical to pilot IBM Client for Smart Work and associated virtual desktop capabilities at the IT Park in the State of Kerala, India.

"Developing countries worldwide are looking for ways to optimize IT costs and at the same time make use of emerging technologies to bypass tough roads driven by their predecessors," said George Abraham, CTO of United Nations Pension Fund and Chairman of KITA. "IBM Client for Smart Work will be a real enabler to accelerate establishment of smart cities and villages in countries like India, where overcoming traditional boundaries using social networks and leveraging the dynamics of a global flat world is driving domestic growth.”

A growing ecosystem of partners including Zyxware Technologies in India, and more than 40 business partners through Virtual Bridges, a company that provides the virtual Linux desktop capabilities using VERDE, are offering the IBM Client for Smart Work to clients around the world. ZSL, a leading ISV and Global Software Solutions and Services provider, announced “PowerCube” Desktop as a Service solution powered by IBM Client for Smart Work in India, US and Africa. The “PowerCube” is a comprehensive desktop solution and includes IBM's open collaborative and productive components – Lotus Notes and Lotus Symphony on Ubuntu Linux in the cloud or on-premise. In addition, Virtual Bridges announced new customers, including ShvinTech with cloud partner KalariSys, and partners adopting IBM Client for Smart Work.

Canonical will also support Lotus Symphony, a key component of IBM Client for Smart Work, available through business partners, to help clients adopt IBM Client for Smart Work on Ubuntu. This will be initially available in the US.

IBM today also announced the unveiling of a new IBM Open Company Center in the IBM Innovation Center in Waltham, MA. The center will give IBM business partners and clients hands-on experience with the IBM Client for Smart Work on Ubuntu and Red Hat. It will showcase a variety of use-cases including logging into a virtual Linux desktop using a memory stick, using different Linux-based netbooks along with laptops, desktops and thin other hardware clients. The Center will also provide banking, education, government and healthcare specific demos.

This new center in Waltham joins similar IBM Open Company Centers around the world including those in Germany, Spain, Italy, France and Netherlands.

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