Mineworx has entered the enterprise mobility market by becoming a channel reseller partner for iAnywhere, Sybase Africa's mobile division. iAnywhere is the global market leader with 73% mobile database market share.
This partnership is in line with iAnywhere's drive to form strategic alliances with manufacturers of wireless networking, mobile computing devices, software and mobile middleware applications, and consulting services.
Mineworx was formed in 2000 when three companies, with respective focuses on Oracle development, Microsoft platforms and consulting, merged. In 2003 the company was wholly acquired by OrbTech Holdings, as one of three divisions in the group.
"Sybase benefits from the arrangement by gaining a partner that is an industry leader in software development and consulting," says Caroline Scofield, Sybase's mobile product manager. "The benefit for Mineworx is a partnership with a global market leader in the 'enterprise-unwired' end-to-end mobile solutions market."
iAnywhere Solutions was created in 1998 when Sybase unbundled its mobile software product division and formed a wholly owned subsidiary. Analyst organiation DataQuest says Sybase, through iAnywhere, has consistently grown its market share of the mobile and embedded database market.
"Sybase has a well deserved reputation of being a strong IT partner to have in business," says Anthony Pienaar, MD of Mineworx. "This reputation will provide us with a foothold in the market, and in turn, we will provide greater exposure for Sybase products and services, specifically with iAnywhere."
Mineworx will initially sell the iAnywhere product range, offering customisation when required, and performing application development on the Sybase platform. Sybase will provide service and support for the products. Staff at Mineworx are undergoing intensive sales and product training on the iAnywhere suite of products, with the aim of taking over the support of the products in the near future.
"Our experience of the market has shown us that companies have been burned too often, being made promises by IT vendors that just haven't delivered," Pienaar says. "As a result, they now want to see what level of experience you have with the solutions you are trying to sell them. This partnership with iAnywhere gives us the power to approach a client and show him the wealth of experience that backs us up. Sybase and iAnywhere gives us that extra punch in the market."
Pienaar says: "It is our mission to become the provider of Sybase services in SA before the end of 2004."
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