Thule group picks IBM for on-demand services

ARMONK: -- IBM today announced that it has been selected to provide on demand services for The Thule Group, the world's leading manufacturer of load carriers for cars.

As part of the agreement, to help ensure system availability and the safety of data, IBM will provide Thule with a security-enhanced hosting solution, which includes collocation of Thule's hardware plus backup and restore services to help prevent loss of data and system outages. IBM will host IT infrastructure that runs Thule's Web site, a valuable asset to the company's business which features detailed product information, allows customers to purchase replacement parts and is an important marketing tool for the company.

"Thule's Web site is a key sales channel for us and is the face of our company to much of the world," said Steve Doviak, marketing manager, The Thule Group. "We are pleased to be working with IBM -- being with a reliable and stable hosting provider is critical to our company."

A growing number of customers are taking care of business without hiring IT staff or purchasing IT infrastructure, instead fulfilling their IT needs via on demand services. IBM on demand services help customers obtain IT management expertise and computing resources on a flexible and cost-efficient basis. IBM on demand services include security capabilities, computing capacity on demand, software as a service and desktop management. Most services are sold on a usage basis, reducing the upfront capital investment and freeing up financial resources for strategic growth initiatives.

"By selecting IBM's on demand services, Thule is taking advantage of a reliable infrastructure so the company can focus on its core business," said Mark Morin, general manager, IBM Global Services. "IBM's experience in providing hosting services -- be it traditional collocation or computing capacity on demand -- provides customers with efficient and security-enhanced solutions to help them compete in the marketplace."