IBM introduced the System z10 mainframe in February. This hardware introduction, along with its associated New Enterprise Data Center initiative, aims to move the mainframe into more enterprises that might not have considered it previously.
Info-Tech Research Group predicts that IBM will:
- Have little or no difficulty in its pursuit of “strategic” accounts.
- Be able to stop or reduce the losses in revenue from mainframe operations.
- Not substantially displace the growing market for x86-based server technologies and will make no significant inroads into enterprises that do not currently have mainframes in place.
Enterprises consolidating and virtualizing x86 servers may find that a mainframe is a viable alternative for overloaded data centers with the right mix of operating systems and applications. However, IBM has a major battle ahead of it in training existing IT staff on the advantages of mainframe technology.