By providing one of South Africa`s leading Internet service providers, iAfrica, with Lotus Domino running on an iSeries 9406-720 server platform, IBM SA`s Web-focused NetGen business unit enabled iAfrica to add an additional 10 000 users to its existing subscriber base of 300 000 in the space of three months.
iAfrica used Lotus Domino to develop a free Web-based e-mail, calendaring and scheduling application to offer users.
"The development of a new range of value-added services for our subscriber base required a new dedicated server and we felt that the solution which IBM and Lotus could provide would be the best long-term solution. Even though this platform has minor limitations, it is great from a scalability point of view," says Johan Pretorius, technology manager at iAfrica.
IBM SA`s iAfrica account manager, Gordon Fairlie, says the stability of the iSeries platform was a major factor in iAfrica`s decision. "Lotus Domino was iAfrica`s first choice of software but, when it came to hardware, iAfrica considered various options.
"The company was losing a lot of its hardware skills to overseas markets. So it needed a box that is reliable - able to be switched on and left without any risk of downtime. It became obvious that only the iSeries could fulfil the need.
"Since going live in November 2000 the iSeries has proved its worth - there have been no system failures whatsoever.
"And, with IBM providing remote support, there is no need for iAfrica even to touch the box."
With iAfrica anticipating an additional 90 000 subscribers coming on stream very quickly for its Domino offering, scalability was another important consideration. "The iSeries will handle the extra traffic easily," says Fairlie.
IBM`s recently-established NetGen business unit focuses on businesses created on the Web or deriving the majority of their revenue via the Web. IBM is attaching huge importance to this sector.
Says Fairlie: "iAfrica is one of South Africa`s largest dot.coms and the contract sets a significant strategic precedent in the marketplace."
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IBM
IBM is the world`s largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from across IBM and key Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that enable customers, large and small, to take full advantage of the new era of e-business.
The iSeries (AS/400) server is part of IBM`s eServer family.
The IBM SA home page can be found at www.ibm.com/za