IBM Strategic Alliance with IT Design to Transform Human Services and Social Security Applications

Business Wire, July 5, 2000

Business/Technology Editors

SOMERS, N.Y. & DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 5, 2000

Enterprise Solution Framework to Modernize the development of systems

for the Human Services, Social Security and Pensions Markets

IBM (NYSE:IBM) and IT Design of Dublin announce a strategic global alliance to transform the development of business solutions for Human Services, Social Security and Pensions Applications through Curam - a comprehensive enterprise solution framework that addresses core business needs in the $22 billion (U.S. dollars) global Human Services and Social Security industries, including Client and Case Management, Financial Management, Contribution Management and Administration.

By combining IBM's market presence with the business technology of IT Design, this strategic alliance offers world-class Human Services and Social Security solutions that can be tailored to meet specific customer needs. Through this agreement, customers can develop mission-critical applications faster, for less cost and at less risk.

"Here at IBM we are very excited to be able to bring this new technology to our Human Services and Social Security customers," said Chris Gibbon, IBM's Global Social Segment Executive. "By bringing IBM's implementation skills together with IT Design's enterprise solutions framework, Human Services and Social Security customers will be able to better implement and support a wide range of income programs, grants, insurance as well as non-cash benefits and services."

Curam was developed by IBM's business partner IT Design, based in Dublin, Ireland, and is available to customers through IBM. It provides Client and Case-centric support for key Human Services and Social Security business processes including:

- Client, Employer, Service Provider and Utility registration

and maintenance

- Claim Intake / Registration

- Integrated Case Management for Benefits, Service Plans,

Contributions, Liabilities and Investigations

- Financial Management for creating and maintaining financial

schedules and transactions for Clients, Providers, Utility

Companies and Cases

- Contribution Management

- Administration for Security, Organization structures, Product

definitions, Currency exchange, Bank Accounts and Code Tables

Curam is designed to meet the core operational needs of Human Services and Social Security organizations including Intake, Assessment, Eligibility, Financial Transaction processing and Case Management. As the Transaction Engine Curam has direct support for e-business operations by providing internet-based access for Clients and Service Providers.

Curam represents a strategic approach to the development of solutions for Human Services and Social Security organizations. It specifically addresses the problems associated with Change Management and incorporates concepts, ideas and best practices from the Human Services and Social Security industries worldwide. Curam's standards-based, integrated development framework supports component based development allowing faster development and deployment, and delivers improved application maintenance facilities allowing faster introduction of new legislation. Multiple languages and multiple currencies including the Euro are also supported.

IT Design has chosen several IBM products as corebuilding blocks for its applications including DB2 Universal Database(a), Websphere Application Server(a), Visual Age for Java(a) and MQSeries(a) messaging middleware. Curam is available on IBM RS/6000(a) and Netfinity(a) servers.

"Curam offers a unique combination of business knowledge and technology in an enterprise Framework that will allow us to transform social and government services into e-businesses," explains Chris Gibbon, "and bringing the efficiencies of the Internet-driven private sector into the process. We view our relationship with IT Design as great opportunity to service this market."

About IT Design

IT Design is an Irish company with offices in Dublin, Ireland and California, USA specialising in solutions for the Human Services and Social Security industries. The company is a market leader having won international recognition for delivering object-oriented, Client/Server solutions worldwide. Curam encapsulates the practical experiences of providing solutions throughout the world as well as the experiences gained as an international thought leader in the industry.

About IBM PartnerWorld for Developers

Software developer IBM Business Partners receive support through PartnerWorld for Developers (www.developer.ibm.com) - a worldwide program designed to help them reach broader markets, lower their costs of doing business, and take their products to market faster. It focuses on leading-edge technologies that enable developers to deliver complete e-business solutions to their customers.

(a) Indicates a trademark or registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. All other products or company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.