LAS VEGAS, April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today unveiled its first ever Mobile Foundation, a comprehensive portfolio of software and services designed to help organizations capitalize on the proliferation of mobile environments -- including laptops, smartphones and tablets. (#IBMmobile)

Building on its recent acquisition of Worklight, the new foundation further expands IBM's strategy to provide clients with a mobile platform that spans application development, integration, security and management. 

The IBM Mobile Foundation is targeting $22B market opportunity that is expected to grow to $36B in 2015.(1) In an IBM survey of more than 700 CIOs, three quarters said they are embracing a mobile strategy because a flexible workplace delivers a 20 percent improvement in employee productivity. The CIOs said they are significantly reducing the cost of doing business by decreasing dependence on email, improving social collaboration and adopting cloud technologies to reach mobile workers.(2)

IBM has been steadily investing in the mobile space for more than a decade, both organically and through acquisitions: building a complete portfolio of software and services that delivers enterprise-ready mobility for clients.  Increasingly, enterprises are reaching beyond their traditional IT boundaries by consuming new Cloud services and creating new mobile applications for employees and customers for broad consumption by customers, partners and developers.  As a result, the new IBM Mobile Foundation offers organizations the following core capabilities:

• Connect Cloud & Mobile Environments:  As the adoption of mobile computing continues to create increased demands for cloud services, IBM WebSphere Cast Iron is a crucial element of the new foundation. Now, clients will be able to easily connect mobile applications to a variety of Cloud and back-end systems.
• Build and Connect Mobile Applications:  A new set of development and integration tools from IBM Worklight will enable clients for the first time to develop mobile applications and their supporting infrastructures for a variety of platforms just once and run them on any mobile platform - including Apple iOS and Google Android, and RIM Blackberry. Through new resources provided on developerWorks at no charge, IBM is also providing the technical skill building information developers need to start building secure mobile solutions ranging from simple applications to integrated web-based and native architectures.
• Manage and Secure Mobile Environments: In an effort to help organizations manage the Bring Your Own Device or "BYOD" trend, the foundation includes new software from IBM Endpoint Manager to help  customers deliver a single solution that effectively manages and secures all endpoints. For example, this allows organizations to wipe enterprise data and applications from endpoints when needed.   These unified capabilities extend from servers and laptops, to smartphones and tablets.
• Extend Existing Capabilities and Capitalize on New Business Opportunities:  A new set of services, such as the IBM Quick Win Pilot, can assist clients with their mobile strategy and deployment. At the end of the 10 week pilot, clients are able to implement a defined use case with IBM Mobile technology and achieve tangible results. Additionally, new capabilities in the IBM DataPower appliances can now help IT organizations quickly and securely expose their enterprise data and services to mobile devices.

"It's no secret that throughout the last decade, the most successful organizations have been quick to leverage new technology for business advantage," said Marie Wieck, General Manager, IBM Application and Integration Middleware.  "Over this time, we have evolved our market-leading portfolio to meet our client's needs to extend their reach through new channels like mobile and cloud computing.  Our latest offerings are yet another step in this direction and will provide customers with everything they need to support mobile devices in their business and use them to transform the way they interact with customers, partners and employees."

TBC Corporation Uses IBM Mobile Capabilities to Creates a New Customer Experience for the Automotive Aftermarket

TBC Corporation will use mobile computing as a major strategy to accelerate the company's already rapid expansion into auto services. The nation's largest reseller of tires for the automotive replacement market, TBC is also a major force in retail automotive services for cars and trucks with more than 3,000 service outlets across the USA.

Using IBM Worklight, TBC is kicking off a major mobile initiative starting with a store locator much requested by customers. Soon to follow will be applications that provide automatic service status updates, allowing customers to approve repairs by text, and give customers anytime/anywhere access to service records for their car or truck.

The goal is to supply customers with a completely transparent and easy auto service experience, says John Capriotti, Vice President, Web and Ecommerce for TBC. Today, maintaining a car or truck is complex.  People have to remember service intervals, engage in complicated interactions and manage and file reams of paperwork. With TBC's new online and mobile strategy, this all goes away. Auto maintenance will be seamless and simple.

This year's IMPACT conference features more than 8,500 attendees and hundreds of client testimonials, presentations, workshops and product demos. For more information, visit: http://www.ibm.com/press/us/en/presskit/37590.wss

For more information on how IBM is helping clients and partners make smarter, faster decisions and increase their business, visit: http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet

(1) According to IBM studies.
(2) IBM research paper: Achieving success with a flexible workplace. Publish date, May 2012.

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SOURCE IBM