i3 Software and Datatrend today announced they will provide joint network
management and monitoring solutions. Together, the two companies, both IBM
reseller partners, will provide a packaged IBM
BladeCenter and Tivoli solution to
the telecommunications, banking and retail industries.
The relationship plays on the strengths and experiences of each company. i3
will provide Tivoli integration and
management services while Datatrend supports configuration and implementation
services for IBM BladeCenter hardware.
Together, i3 and Datatrend will be able to “offer a packaged solution that
allows customers to get their solution up and running a lot sooner,” according
to Manoj Khabe, i3’s CTO and practice leader
for enterprise management services.
According to Khabe, the partnership aims to reduce time to market and
provide improved ROI for customers. “They get the best of both hardware and
software, so they can manage the solution without more headcount,” says Khabe.
Primarily, i3 and Datatrend will focus on offering the solution to the
telecommunications, banking and retail industries. Datatrend Director of
Marketing Chuck Fuerst asserts that these markets are experiencing a unique and
growing demand for packaged virtualization and monitoring solutions.
“For example, telecom service providers are moving beyond traditional voice
services to new technologies like VOIP and IPTV,” says Fuerst. “These
technologies drive different systems and network devices. An integrated IBM
Tivoli system allows them to effectively monitor and manage those networks.”
As of today, the two companies are actively marketing and selling the
solution.