Re: IBM i hosting "in the cloud"

Actually it has little or nothing to do with the services branch of IBM, nor with the desire to move into the type of license model I am suggesting. The problem is two fold, first a licensing model that can be monitored and measured needs to be devised. The hooks are already in IBM i, way more difficult in AIX (since the hooks are not there), and nearly impossible in most licensed program products, the exception being the IBM i LPPs since they already adhere to the license model.

The second and by far and away more difficult side is the method to order, obtain license keys and pay for temporary use of the software. IBMs business systems are just not set up to handle that type of transaction and until they are (if ever) a short term software lease model is just not feasible.

It is not reluctance on most IBMrs part to do this, it is a systemic issue in the order/enablement/fulfillment process that is really the problem. This software model would provide more, albeit in smaller chunks, revenue to support IBM i and AIX, and not affect the consulting side of the business at all.

Jim Oberholtzer
CEO/Chief Technical Architect
Agile Technology Architects, LLC


On 5/12/2010 11:47 AM, sjl wrote:

*This message was transferred with a trial version of CommuniGate(r) Pro*
Jim wrote:
...Having spoken to some folks at IBM about the situation I am not holding
my breath that a licensing model that makes this type of service viable
is imminent in any way.


Jim -

I'm not surprised at all, given that since the majority of IBM's revenue now
comes from services, they are more interested in selling consulting services
than hardware.

IMO, the folks upstairs don't want to promote any solutions that take away
any of /their/ potential consulting revenue.

- sjl