As well as all its storage announcements yesterday, IBM also announced a new marketing channel for the AS/400 in the US: where in the UK it is going for freelance sales people, in the US it is going for telephone ordering by a new class of low-end AS/400 resellers. IBM On-Line for Orders and Support provides streamlined ordering, delivery and 90 day free technical support for end users buying AS/400s. As part of the IBM On-Line announcement, a new Business Partner relationship, the Authorised General Business Remarketer, was created to market the baby AS/400 9402 System Unit. In addition, a centralised branch office was set up to provide end-user support, order entry and administrative functions. Orders will be placed by the General Business Remarketer via a toll-free 800 number for shipment direct to the Business Partner or the customer. Systems with standard configurations are shipped within 72 hours. Custom configurations that include IBM hardware, software, input-output devices and Plug’N’Go systems will be shipped within 10 business days. The title of Authorised General Business Remarketers is open only to existing Authorised Application Specialists, Authorised Industry Application Specialists, Authorised Agents and Authorised Industry Remarketers and all must have experience selling and installing the AS/400 product line. The General Business Remarketer will get a discount on the AS/400 9402s, IBM software and input-output devices and will not be required to provide IBM approved value-added enhancements when installing the AS/400s.
