Arrow ECS IBM Group Newsletter

Smart Business Dev/Test on the IBM Cloud Evaluation Program for Business Partners

Program Overview
The IBM Smart Business Development and Test on the IBM Cloud Business Partner Evaluation Program provides IBM Business Partners with temporary access to and use of Smart Business on the IBM Cloud services. Participating Business Partners will receive one User ID to access the Smart Business Development and Test on the IBM Cloud service. Each User ID will have the ability to provision up to three concurrent virtual machine instances with the following options:

• 32- or 64-bit Copper machine configurations 
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5, or SUSE Linux Enterprise Server version 11 operating system images 
• one storage unit (256 GB) 
• two reserved IP addresses

BP Benefit:
To enable Business Partners to evaluate and learn about the service, and to facilitate customer demonstrations during the evaluation period with the goal of accelerating sales results for the channel.

Duration:  
Cloud access available from January 31 through April 15, 2011.

Visit:
https://www-304.ibm.com/partnerworld/wps/servlet/ContentHandler/svc_com_sof_sbdtic_program_overview
Download the Evaluation Agreement, sign and return to IBM cloudopp@us.ibm.com 
Download the Welcome Kit to become more familiar with the service 
Experiment with the service internally 
Talk about the service to clients 
Demonstrate to clients and develop new sales opportunities

Don’t forget to leverage other resources such as: 
GTS Cloud Services Deal Registration Program 
Sales Kit on PartnerWorld 
Education modules on PartnerWorld University 
Internal use discount for on-going requirements or larger configuration needs

Let’s Partner to Close IBM Opportunities!! 2011 Business Partner Summits

Let’s Partner to Close IBM Opportunities!! We would like to invite you to join IBM for the Business Partner Summits. In these sessions, IBM Executives and extended team will cover a variety of hot topics, and we’ll conclude the meeting with a networking reception for attendees to make connections to close more business. Discussion Topics: 2011 Strategy IBM’s 2015 Roadmap IBM Centennial Events Competitive selling tips for sales teams Marketing and sales plays all partners can utilize Seating for this event is limited! Pre-Registration is required, so please register ASAP. We look forward to seeing you there.   2011 Business Partner Summits: Atlanta – March 8 : https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp009.nsf/v16_agenda?openform&seminar=8A5U3GES&locale=en_US Ft. Lauderdale – March 10: https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp009.nsf/v16_agenda?openform&seminar=669UENES&locale=en_US     San Francisco – March 10: https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp009.nsf/v16_agenda?openform&seminar=732CJUES&locale=en_US St. Louis – March 15: https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp009.nsf/v16_agenda?openform&seminar=594D67ES&locale=en_US Boston – March 15: https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp009.nsf/v16_agenda?openform&seminar=D95UB6ES&locale=en_US       Houston – March 21: https://www-950.ibm.com/events/wwe/grp/grp009.nsf/v16_agenda?openform&seminar=DAZMYRES&locale=en_US

IBM Data Center Relocation Services Offering

Arrow ECS offers IBM's Data Center Relocation Services to provide more hardware services options for our resellers.  With IBM's Data Center Relocation Services our Resellers can provide their end-users with a complete and efficient hardware relocation service.
 
Highlights of the IBM Data Center Relocation Services Offering:

• A total end-to-end relocation solution with a single IBM point of contact for the relocation
• Coordinating of all move related activities including site preparation and any potential migration planning
• Structuring the relocation to allow for maximum availability and minimizing the risk of downtime
• Providing trained IBM Relocation specialists to manage vendors, subcontractors, and movers ensuring the project stays on schedule and within budget; while freeing up the client's own internal resources to allow them to focus on their core business
• Providing trained IBM Technicians and IBM Certified logistical movers to ensure the continued integrity of the Maintenance or Warranty on your client's equipment
• IBM Technician's stay onsite to see the relocation project through to completion ensuring the client's equipment installs at the new site correctly and functions properly

With the IBM Data Center Relocation Services our resellers can provide their customers the peace of mind they are looking for when entrusting them to move the assets that run their business.   The trained IBM Relocation Specialists know how best to complete your client's technical relocation in the most complete and concise manner possible; while minimizing the impact to your clients' business.

Contact your Arrow ECS Sales Representative to see how we can start exceeding your client Relocation Services requirements TODAY!!

Enroll now for Softek Delivery Training -- March classes in Phoenix

IBM Business Partners interested in selling Transactional Terabyte Licenses (TTLs) for IBM Global Technology Services Data Mobility Services (DMS) Softek products must complete delivery and perform training before TTLs can be purchased. This training will enable Business Partners to effectively use IBM Data Mobility tools to perform data migration and protection services for clients.

Two independent courses are available:
        (1) IBM Open Systems, 4 Days (32 teaching hours) or IBM Open Systems (Windows only), 2 Days (16 teaching hours), and
        (2) IBM z/OS Mainframe, 3 days (24 teaching hours)

Tuition for active IBM Business Partners, based the PartnerWorld Profiling System, is discounted at 25% for these sessions in 1Q 2011.  Be sure to identify yourself as an IBM Business Partner in your enrollment form.  IBM Business Partners are responsible for their own travel and living expenses.

Audience
Students are required to be experienced Systems or Storage Administrators with knowledge of the host operating system and storage architecture. This course is not intended for sales personnel.

Dates and Locations:
DMS Softek Technical Product Training - Open Systems:
Phoenix, AZ
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 to Friday, March 11, 2011
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuition: $2,820 list, $2,115 with Business Partner discount

DMS Softek Technical Product Training - Open Systems (Windows only):
Phoenix, AZ
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 to Wednesday, March 9, 2011
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuition: $1,540 list, $1,155 with Business Partner discount

DMS Softek Technical Product Training - z/OS
Phoenix, AZ
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 to Thursday, March 10, 2011
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuition: $2,200 List, $1,650 with Business Partner discount

Go to the PartnerWorld link for more information on course objectives and prerequisites.  

Register now for these Open Systems course or z/OS Mainframe courses. All registrants are placed in stand-by status prior to confirmation.  Do not delay your enrollment as capacity is limited to 10 students per class.

For additional class information contact:

• U.S.: John Campbell at jwcampbe@us.ibm.com, or 818-539-3263
• Canada: Tony Aziz at taziz@ca.ibm.com, or 416-478-5412
  

PartnerReward Education and Test Vouchers are ready for 2011

The website for requesting 2011 PartnerReward Education and Test Vouchers is now open for North America Business Partners. For details on how to take advantage of these education vouchers, click here.

Mark Your Calendars -- 1Q 2011 Tivoli Live Quick Learn Education Series for Business Partner Sellers

IBM Global Technology Services, Storage and Data Services will host informative and interactive IBM Business Partner webcasts the third Wednesday of each month at 11:00 a.m. ET. This series is comprised of high-impact, 45-minute events for Business Partner sellers to help build pipeline, drive revenue and increase knowledge of Tivoli Live solutions.

Calls for January/February include:

Date: January 19
Topic: Tivoli Live - monitoring services Webinar for Business Partners

Date: February 16
Topic: Tivoli Live Customer Examples and Use Cases

For complete details of this series, click here.

Remote Product Services now eligible for Know Your IBM Sell and Earn points

Know Your IBM (KYI) Rep Rewards is a merchandise rewards program directed at individual sellers in an IBM Business Partner firm.  With authorization from a principal officer at your firm, you can participate in this loyalty program to earn points. The points you earn can be redeemed for over 5,000 different items from latest electronics like big screen TVs to iPODs, travel on trips anywhere in the world, or preloaded MasterCard or Visa credit cards. There is also a concierge service available so if you do not see what you want, you can take the points you earn and get help to find your DREAM reward.

Learn and Earn 2010 Rewards Program rewards employees who successfully complete qualifying IBM quick learning training modules.  Sell and Earn 2010 Rewards Program rewards employees for reporting sales of qualifying new IBM products and services to End Users.

On July 1, 2010, IBM Global Technology Services expanded the offerings eligible for Sell and Earn to include the entire portfolio of Remote Product Services.  These implementation and migration services enable a faster return on investment for clients and use highly-skilled IBM specialists. Remote delivery allows for affordability and scheduling flexibility, resulting in a lower priced option compared to traditional on-site services.  Each time you sell and report the invoice in the KYI program for any of these offerings you can now earn 100 points. The more you sell, the more you earn.
 
For more details, reference Business Partner Announcement Letter #510-438.

3Q10 Topics for IBM Storage and Data Services Quick Learn Education Series for BP Sellers

IBM Global Technology Services, Storage and Data Services is hosting regular IBM Business Partner Webcasts the second Wednesday of each month at 11:00 a.m. EDT. This series is comprised of high-impact, 45-minute events for Business Partner sellers to help build pipeline and drive revenue.

Following are the topics and participation details for the 3Q 2010 sessions. Abstracts with a further description of the topics listed are attached. Be sure to mark your calendar.

Check out the Bid Certification Center

Are you ready for a bid certification?  Can you navigate BCC?  There are training tools available to you for the Bid Certification Center:
 
https://www-304.ibm.com/jct01005c/partnerworld/mem/sell/sel_gpp_home.html

• You may be prompted to sign in with your IBM Partnerworld ID and Password
• Click the Training tab
• Select a Language and Role (i.e. BCC Focal Point)
• Click Go
• Toward the bottom, under the section BCC Focal Point Tasks, click the icon (filmstrip) next to BCC Overview
• A new window opens
• At the bottom, click the icon to view a simulation for BCC End to End

 
Follow the steps you will now see as you go thru the simulation.

Reminder: IBM Storage and Data Services Quick Learn Education Series for Business Partner sellers - June 9

IBM Global Services Business Partners are encouraged to join the monthly webcast for Storage and Data Services on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 to learn how to bundle DS3000 with Softek Replicator as a low cost alternative to hardware mirroring. Softek Replicator is asynchronous replication software that provides data protection without disruption. Learn how to upsell the DS3000 product by adding data protection with Replicator on every DS3000 to drive additional revenue opportunities and higher margins. Don't miss the call on June 9