IBM sets up software development lab in Malaysia

KAULA LAMPUR, MALAYSIA: IBM Corp. has opened its first software development lab in Malaysia to help accelerate the creation of products for its Tivoli Netcool software group that focuses on the communications service providers.

The lab currently has 120 software engineers, with plans to increase by another 30 in this year. The engineers at the lab are developing applications for all Tivoli Netcool Performance Management products.

"The software development lab highlights Malaysia's role as an important location to help fulfill our global research, development and business strategy," said Ou Shian Waei, managing director, IBM Malaysia.

According to IDC Malaysia, the telecommunications market in the country is worth $ 5.5 billion. Telecom providers around the world need to defend service revenues and stimulate growth as tough competition demands faster service creation and delivery and an enhanced user experience.

"The lab here is part of more than 80 IBM development laboratories around the world giving these teams excellent access to the latest technology and talent to research and develop the industry leading software," said Gilbert Ho, software engineering senior manager for Tivoli software, IBM Malaysia. "We are committed to extending the Vallent product line and integrating them with the broader Tivoli and IBM portfolio."

"This knowledge-driven investment by IBM is significant for Malaysia," said Dato' Badlisham Ghazali, CEO of Multimedia Development Corp. Sdn Bhd (MDeC). "The benefits are tremendous in terms of the sophisticated software technology that will be developed locally, the skilled positions that will be created and the endorsement by an industry leader that Malaysia is providing the requirements for IBM's future in R&D."

Ghazali continued, "The software development lab is also in line with MSC Malaysia's aspirations to become a global partner to companies worldwide and to increase the pool of internationally recognized k-workers. This is great opportunity for local knowledge workers and to make Malaysia a regional hub for information and communications technology talent."

MDeC will be working closely together with IBM Malaysia to identify and place its qualified candidates under MSC Malaysia K-Workers Development Initiative in IBM's software development lab.

In February 2007, IBM completed the acquisition of Vallent, a provider of operational support and network management software. Vallent has an established presence in Malaysia, employing 100 people. The Vallent technology, now part of Tivoli software at IBM, helps wireless service providers manage the performance of their IT network infrastructure through monitoring and reporting of wireless service quality and potential network problems before they impact a customer's experience.