Arrow ECS IBM Group Newsletter

Invite Clients to one of 30 cities near you: x86 Redefined Experience it with IBM and Intel!

IBM has announced a 30-city roadshow in support of both the game-changing eX5 enterprise systems that offer maximum memory, storage and performance for your most demanding applications.  In addition, IBM will review their new two-socket rack, tower, blade and iDataPlex servers. Arrow ECS System x Resellers should invite their customers/prospects to this important event to see these new servers in action and learn more about:

• IBM's breakthrough technology
• Client and Partner experiences
• Intel Architecture and product roadmaps

     
Please see the attached flyer for additional detail and register via:  www.ibm.com/systems/x86tour
 
Download X86 redefined roadshow invitation

Arrow ECS Q110 EmuleX Blow Out

Emulex's newest HBA and CIOv products will be play an important supporting role when IBM's eX5 architecture begins to roll out beginning in second quarter.  But you don't have to wait until then!  Arrow ECS and Emulex have teamed up to offer incremental incentives now on their newest 8Gb HBAs, as well as the 8Gb Expansion Card (CIOv) for BladeCenter, valid for Arrow invoices to our Resellers through Q1 2010.

More Information on the MPower Portal

Know your IBM Rewards

IBM recently announced several promotions that will be of interest to our System x Resellers.  Eligible IBM® Business Partners can receive a rebate for each sale of an eligible new IBM BladeCenter® Virtual Fabric solution.  The amount of the rebate will depend upon the two IBM adapters that are eligible. Additionally, IBM launched the 2010 Know Your IBM (KYI) program that allows employees of eligible IBM® Business Partners to earn redeemable "points" for sales of System x and other products.  In order to participate, a senior-level representative of the Business Partner company must provide approval to IBM for their employees to participate under the terms of the program. 

Find "Know your IBM Rewards" on the MPower Portal.

New Server and Storage IBM Remote Delivered Services for Business Partners to sell -- Feb. 24 Launch Training Call

In late February 2010, IBM Global Technology Services will be announcing a portfolio of new offerings that IBM Business Partners will be able to sell as remote delivered services supporting IBM server and storage products.  These services will be focused on the following solution areas:

• IBM Power Systems implementation and migration
• IBM System x implementation
• IBM System Storage disk implementation

By remotely accessing systems through a security-rich virtual private network (VPN) connection, IBM provides a less intrusive and more cost-effective implementation or migration so your clients can more quickly realize the value of their server and storage systems. Our remote capabilities provide flexibility to schedule server and storage system implementation or migration virtually anytime, to help limit the risk of business disruption. The list price for these services will typically be 25% less than traditional IBM on-site services. This provides more competitive pricing as clients continue to have their belts tightened on IT expenditures, but are willing to entertain value based solutions.

Remote delivered services provide IBM Business Partners the following advantages:

• Fixed price, fixed scope services for predictable costs
• You continue to retain client relationships and leverage IBM in the background
• Frees up your resources to focus on delivery of higher profit asset based and annuity services

Join us on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 for an important introductory training call for Business Partner executives and sellers to learn more about these exciting new services and how you can leverage them in your sales efforts to provide a complete client solution.

Agenda topics:

• Market Opportunity
• Overview of remote delivery model
• Client benefits
• Value proposition
• Service descriptions
• Pricing
  

Call details:

Day:	Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Time:	11:00 a.m. - Noon ET -- Plan to dial in 10 minutes prior to the start of the call and join the Web conference
Audio Call-in:	800-857-3450 (toll free)
Audio Passcode:	Remote Delivered Services
Web conference:	www.lotuslive.com/join
Web conference ID:	2684658

                  
We invite you to join us on LotusLive Meetings to view the material covered.  You will need to dial in to access the audio. There is no registration required for this call.  The presentation will also be available for download on the IBM PartnerWorld Services Web site the morning of the call at:
https://www.ibm.com/partnerworld/mem/services/us/training.html#system  (Look under the new heading for "System Services.")

Mark your calendar now so you do not miss this opportunity to grow your services sales in 2010.

System x Channel Evaluation - A New Twist!

IBM's popular System X Channel Evaluation Program remains a potent strategic tool for penetrating new accounts in 2010. Read more on the MPower Portal.

Deal Registration - Federal Participation

Deal Registration for System X has been in place for several years and affords both a level of protection and an increased ability to 'compete and win' via Special Bid pricing.   Effective 01/04/10, IBM has modified Deal Registration to include Federal opportunities (previously excluded from this program).   Arrow System x Resellers who are actively working Federal opportunities should immediately register these via the Deal Registration process as all new Special Bid requests will require a Registration Number.

All existing Federal Special Bids will now expire on 03/31/10.  For more information please reference CC1001-002 on the MPower Portal website.

The IBM Competitive Transaction Exception

Arrow ECS wants to be certain that Arrow ECS Resellers are leveraging all of the available IBM programs and promotions offered each quarter.  One popular program, the IBM Competitive Transaction Exception (CTE) Program, has proven to be particularly useful in closing business.  CTE is ideal for smaller deals that would not typically qualify for IBM Special Bid consideration.   When IBM's Sell More Blue offering alone just isn't enough to seal the deal, please remember to request CTE via Arrow ECS to further enhance your competitive sales position.  For more information, contact your Arrow ECS Inside Sales Representative today - they will be happy to explain the program in more detail.

eX5

The next edition of System x, the ex5, is coming soon! It's the next exciting turn of the crank for System x!!!  It's "eX5".  A 2 day TECHNICAL training session will be conducted for business partners (technical community) on December 8th and 9th in Raleigh, NC on eX5, the next exciting product enhancements to our System x portfolio. 

Arrow Q409 Inventory Blow-Out Play

Significant discounts on inventory are available through Arrow on a first-come, first-serve basis and can be combined with IBM Special Bid, Sell More Blue, and all other current IBM rebate offerings for a truly exceptional Arrow aggregate price. The Arrow Q409 Inventory Blow-Out Play is applicable for Arrow invoices with date ranges from 11/05/09 to 12/31/09.

System x Chassis Promotion

IBM recently announced a new System x Chassis promotion, effective 10/06/09 through the end of the quarter.  For further detail, please reference the full announcement via the Arrow ECS MPower Portal

To get access to the MPower Portal