Does IBM have a secret plan to kill the mainframe?

One comment

1. 

   Bob Hoey says:

   November 3, 2005 at 2:38 pm

   I’m the worldwide sales leader for IBM’s mainframe business and recently returned from a visit to Warsaw in which I presented the z/OS Encryption Facility to about 100 customers most of whom expressed interest in the ability of this software in helping encrypt removable tape media helping protect personally indentifiable information from possible compromise. Customer’s like the idea of using the centralized secure key management capability of the mainframe leveraging ICSF to help protect data on the mainframe. There is real interest from banks, public sector organizations and other customers in using the mainframe as a core component of managing enterprise wide security of data .

   Following the meeting I made three calls in mainframe customers in Warsaw inlcuding a bank, public sector agency and industrial sector firm. Two of these customers are working with IBM Business Partners to deliver capabilities including delivery of enterprise-wide security, data management, SOA and mixed work loads. IBM relies heavily on Business Partners to help us serve our customers and this fuels our investment in the zEcosystem.

   I’m interested in learning more about the case mentioned in the post below and learning the other side of the story. But as reported in CRN magazine [http://www.crn.com/sections/breakingnews/dailyarchives.jhtml?articleId=60400385], about 60% of our midmarket mainframe share comes from the channel.

   Would IBM kill the zEcosystem?

   Would Napoleon revisit Waterloo?

   Reply