The Ready for Real Business Linux roadshow, hosted by IBM and featuring speakers and demonstrations of Linux technology from around the Middle East, opened today in Manama. This one-day event was held at the Holiday Inn Hotel.
IBM hosted this event in conjunction with its general marketing and services representatives, Gulf Business Machines (GBM) and Saudi Business Machines (SBM), with the participation of UBM.com from Jordan and QuanTech from Lebanon.
“IBM is profoundly committed to the open source movement and believes that Linux is already a key platform for e-business. By working with the open source communities, IBM is adding its relevant technologies and expertise to help enhance Linux, define standards and extend it to support more enterprise applications,” said Farid Metwaly, general manager, IBM Middle East, Egypt and Pakistan.
“This roadshow is a great opportunity for the growing community of Linux developers and adopters in the region to get together and share knowledge: to strengthen the commitment of those who have already embraced open source software by bringing them together with their peers who share a common strategy.”
IBM has been proactive in increasing the profile of Linux, both globally and regionally. Last year, IBM announced its plans to dedicate nearly $1 billion and 1,500 in-house developers to its Linux initiative. IBM also extended its commitment to Linux in the region, establishing a large Cairo-based development team to work on Arabising Linux.
IBM is the world's largest Information Technology (IT) company. IBM offers a range of services, solutions and technologies. IBM Global Services' revenues reached more than $35 billion in 2001. Services is the fastest growing part of IBM, with nearly 150,000 professionals serving customers in 160 countries. IBM Global Services has about 150 data centers around the world. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
