IBM Builds Green Data Center for GIB-Services; Innovative Technology to Heat Local Public Swimming Pool

Market Wire, April, 2008

IBM (NYSE: IBM) and GIB-Services today announced a new energy efficient "green" data center at a former military bunker outside of Zurich. The new data center is a highly secure data storage facility where GIB will support its clients in Switzerland, and will offer a first-of-its-kind energy model where a direct heat exchange will take place between the data center and a public swimming pool in the town.

Located in Uitikon, Switzerland, the data center is expected to create 2,800 megawatts of wasted heat per year when operating at full capacity -- the same amount of energy needed to supply up to 80 houses with heating and warm water for one year. In order to repurpose some of this previously wasted energy, the town is looking to the needs of local civilians -- ensuring a comfortable temperature for swimming in the town pool.

"We found a partner for this unique project in IBM, a company that distinguishes itself through its vast experience in building high availability data centers with the highest demands on security," said Hans-Rudolf Schärer, president of the board of directors, GIB-Services. "Our decision to collaborate with IBM was easily made given IBM's data center expertise, innovation and commitment to green technology."

"This is a great example of an innovative client solution that not only provides a client with a secure and energy efficient data center, but is also a technology breakthrough to benefit the town," says Steve Sams, vice president of IBM Global Site and Facilities Services. "Theoretically it is possible to reuse up to 90 percent of the electric power required for the operation of the data center as heat energy. Through reclaiming the heat, approximately 130 tons of carbon emissions can be saved. This corresponds to the carbon dioxide discharge of mid-size cars driving 500,000 miles."

The data center agreement was signed in 2007 and recently completed in the first quarter of 2008. The project to heat to the public swimming pool was signed in the first quarter of 2008 and will be completed in the next few months.

About IBM Project Big Green

Announced in May 2007, Project Big Green is a $1 billion initiative to dramatically reduce energy use by IBM and its clients. The initiative includes new energy efficient IBM products and services and a five step approach to energy efficiency in the data center. If followed, this approach can sharply reduce data center energy consumption, transforming clients' technology infrastructure into "green" data centers and provide energy savings of up to 42 percent for an average data center. More information about IBM Project Big Green is available at www.ibm.com/press/projectbiggreen .

About GIB-Services

The Swiss IT company GIB-Services AG offers site and co-location services, and will lease out space in the new data center bunker to customers with high demands on protection and availability. The company's key business is to provide enterprises with a perfectly functioning IT infrastructure in times of increasing IT complexity and requirements, and where ever-increasing expertise is crucial. The portfolio of GIB-Services embraces products and services like server based computing, system tuning, system audits, operational support and technical consulting.

Media contacts: Tim Willeford IBM Corporation 1 (914) 766-4618 twilleford@us.ibm.com Sebastian Drews IBM Switzerland 41-58-333-5127 sebastian.drews@ch.ibm.com