Network computing continues to be a growth area and IBM's hardware products have been evolving in this direction for some time.
This year saw the launch of, or improvements to, several IBM products designed to assist network environments. The company believes the new year will be dominated by electronic commerce and the Internet.
A series of IBM products will include the RS/6000 servers and UNIX operating systems. New 'e-business' features were added to the servers in October, enabling customers of all sizes to launch e- business solutions quickly and economically.
'IBM gives all kinds of customers, from single unit retailers to global investment banks, the confidence to move to e- business,' Sameulson Young, general manager IBM Hong Kong, said.
The RS/6000 platform possesses the 'technology leadership and mission-critical commercial experience to help customers exploit e-business for real competitive advantage'.
KPS Retail Stores is integrating the latest RS/6000 technology into its operations and has used the servers since 1993.
KPS managing director Garrie Roman said recently: 'The leading edge technology offered by the RS/6000 gives us more flexibility as it's scalable, open for multi-platforms, easy to manage and appropriate to our needs.' IBM also added a Power PC 604e microprocessor to the server in September which, according to the company, makes the server up to 58 per cent faster. IBM said the enhancements were designed to help businesses respond to the increases in computer traffic resulting from the Internet, network computing and electronic commerce.