BANGALORE, INDIA: Intel India launched its online storefront and business solution Web portal (http://bxindia.intel.com) on Monday. The site is specially designed for small and medium businesses (SMBs).

The Intel Business Exchange (Intel BX) brings together offerings such as bundled software and hardware, stand-alone business applications and services , etc. The new online initiative enables SMBs to research the products and services, request quotes, and connect with solution providers to speed the identification, selection and implementation of the technology they need to run their businesses.

The community-enabled Web site includes resources such as product descriptions, interactive demonstrations, white papers, case studies, blog entries, and user-submitted product ratings and reviews to help SMB professionals find answers to their toughest business challenges.

Peter D. Elmgren, Managing Director, Intel Business Exchange said: "The Indian SMB market is one of the fastest growing segments which is yet to be fully tapped. There is enough scope for technology players to offer integrated and customized solutions, and Intel's online platform will be able to address all the needs and issues faced by SMBs and transform the market into an organized set-up."

He said that about 13,000 independent software vendors (ISVs) and channel partners were involved in the online initiative, thereby giving a broad rage of products/solutions for SMBs to choose from. The ISVs currently participating in the Intel Business Exchange include Tally, TidaData, Planvisage, Reach Technologies, Think3, Yukti, Infospectrum, Instacol, iWeb Technology and Kaspersky.

Intel's Web portal for Indian SMBs has been launched after similarl launches in North America and China, Elmgren said, adding that apart from ISVs and channel partners, Intel was open to work with its MNC partners like Dell to make available a broad online platform for SMBs.

Narendra Bhandari, Director, Asia Pacific, SSG, Developer Relations Division, Intel, added that Indian SMBs had a faster growth rate than any other BRIC nation. With the local economy growing robustly over a period of time, Indian SMBs are fast adopting IT. The Intel business solution Web portal will help SMBs to choose appropriate solutions in a quicker way.