New IBM Program Helps Customers Obtain Parts for Older PCs & Servers - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Nov 29, 1999

IBM announced Tuesday a new program that enables customers to buy select Options for older IBM PCs and servers from authorized resellers up to 18 months after the Options are no longer offered through IBM. The Options Continuation Program gives customers greater flexibility in managing product standards, transitions and redeployment of legacy systems into new roles.

"IBM is offering this program to meet our customers' needs for upgrades and accessories for older models of IBM notebooks, desktops, workstations and servers," said Bob Galush, director, Options Business Line Management, IBM Personal Systems Group. "The Options Continuation Program allows IBM customers to leverage their existing hardware resources by extending the technology lifecycle and protecting their total cost of ownership."

As part of the Options Continuation Program, IBM has authorized the following two resellers to facilitate customer orders:

iGo Corporation will resell and support select Options for IBM ThinkPad(a) notebook computers. I.T. Xchange will resell and support select Options for PC 300(a) desktop computers, IntelliStation(a) workstations and Netfinity servers.

IBM has provided Options education to iGo and I.T. Xchange sales teams and is confident in their ability to deliver quality, customer service. Both authorized resellers will sell new or refurbished Options and:

- offer a minimum warranty period of 90 days;

- provide toll-free telephone and Web-based sales;

- offer next day shipping as requested by customers.

The Options Continuation Program is currently available for IBM customers in the United States, Canada and Latin America through the authorized OCP resellers, iGo and I.T. Xchange. For more information about the Options Continuation Program, visit: www.pc.ibm.com/us/accessories/ocp.> The Options Continuation Program is the newest and fourth component of IBM's PC Lifecycle Care Program, which was announced earlier this year. As one of the industry's most comprehensive cost-saving programs, the IBM PC Lifecycle Care program gives companies a more informed and stable environment in which to make critical IT decisions, especially those involving current and future technology platforms. It features proactive life cycle management and transition planning tools, support programs and extended-life hardware to support corporate rollouts. The IBM PC Lifecycle Care program, which is available to end users at no additional cost, is one of many IBM programs designed to help customers lower their Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

iGo Corporation

Based in Reno, Nevada, iGo currently has more than 130 models and variations of IBM ThinkPad Options including: batteries, Auto/EM power cords, AC adapters, port replicators, hard drives and memory upgrades. Customers interested in older ThinkPad Options can call iGo at 1-888-718-8303 or visit its Web site at www.igo.com .

I.T. Xchange

Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Toronto, Ontario, I.T. Xchange currently has a large portfolio of legacy Options for IBM desktop PCs, workstations and servers. Customers interested in specific desktop, workstation and server Options can call I.T. Xchange in the United States at 1-877-426-4533 or in Canada at 1-877-426-5700 or visit its Web site at www.itxchange.com/ibm.>

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