Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 3 June 2002

Saudi Business Machines Ltd., the general marketing and services representative of IBM WTC in Saudi Arabia and the leading information technology provider in the region, has completed a seminar series that bought Europe's top mainframe experts to the Kingdom to share new developments in high-end enterprise computing technology.

The seminars also included the Saudi launch of the new IBM eServer zSeries 800, a new lower-priced, entry-class mainframe that fundamentally changes the economics of mainframe computing. IBM experts outlined a number of new mainframe technologies, including Linux for the mainframe, and how the new systems ideally meet the requirements of Middle East companies.

"The z800 hits a sweet spot for our customers in the Middle East. Although we have a substantial installed base of our top end mainframes, many organizations that wanted mainframe-like performance and reliability had to settle for other solutions. Now, with the introduction of the z800, IBM brings the bullet-proof performance and reliability of zSeries technology to customers for whom the mainframe was previously out of reach," said Ray Berard, Business Unit Executive, zServer Sales for IBM CEMA.

The z800 is ideal for mid-market organisations in search of ways to reduce the cost and complexity of owning multiple e-business servers. The new system helps eliminate under-utilized and expensive server farms (with Web servers, print or file servers, and e-mail servers) by moving them onto a single mainframe, simplifying systems management and reducing running costs. Featuring IBM's industry leading z/VM virtualization technology, the z800 is capable of consolidating as few as 20 and up to hundreds of Sun or Intel servers onto a single physical box.

Important topics covered in the seminar series included the worldwide resurgence of mainframes. As e-business requirements grow, along with the requirement for highly reliable off-the-shelf e-business applications (ERP, business intelligence, customer management), mainframes are becoming the enterprise computing platform of choice. Mainframes are also ideal hosts for Linux applications, as they allow multiple servers running multiple applications to be brought together onto a single highly reliable server.

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About SBM
Established in 1981, Saudi Business Machines Limited (SBM), is one of the largest providers of technology products, e-business services and complete turn-key solutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Part of the E.A. Juffali and Brothers Group of companies, it is the general marketing and services representative for IBM World Trade Corporation in the Kingdom, providing a full portfolio of IBM products. Based in Jeddah, and with branches in Riyadh, Al-Khobar and Jubail, SBM has over 500 employees. It offers software and professional consultancy, together with services in networking, business recovery and operations support, alongside tailored maintenance services support for IBM and non-IBM products. Saudi Business Machines (SBM) alongside IBM has been the leading information technology providers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for over 50 years. Through its extensive channel of business partners, SBM is a major force behind the development of the Kingdom's IT industry. More information can be found at http://www.sbm.com.sa

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