Good morning -
IBM today announced a special offer for small businesses that combines
IBM's key middleware and hardware for an industry-leading Linux* solution.
Below, you'll find details within the press release.  Please let me know if
you are interested in pursuing this story.  I would be happy to set up
interviews with IBM executives.

Regards,
Katherine

Katherine Gill
Brodeur Worldwide for IBM
617-587-2080
kgill@brodeur.com

Alise McNeill
IBM Corporation
919-254-6262
alisem@us.ibm.com

            IBM COUPLES HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE TO DELIVER LINUX
                       SOLUTION TO SMALL BUSINESSES

            Discount for Small Businesses Available Through IBM

Somers, NY, March 5, 2001. . .IBM today announced a special offer for small
businesses that combines IBM's key middleware and hardware for an
industry-leading Linux* solution.

Through IBM's online store (www.ibm.com/linux/sbs) or via telephone
(1-888-shop-ibm keycode 7609), small businesses can now save 10 percent
when purchasing the IBM Small Business Suite for Linux with the IBM eServer
xSeries**.  This offer gives small businesses three server configurations
to choose from, ranging from entry level to high-performance, as they
prepare to launch an e-business.

According to IDC, small businesses represent 48 percent of all Linux server
installations.

This solution features IBM's leading software and hardware offerings for
Linux.  The Small Business Suite for Linux includes DB2 Universal Database,
WebSphere Application Server and Lotus Domino.  The Suite is bundled
together to deliver the tools necessary to help customers with messaging
and collaboration, productivity, Web site creation and design, and data
management.

IBM also includes a fully integrated install program that allows customers
to deploy, quickly and easily, the key software featured in the Suite on
both servers and desktops.

The eServer xSeries is IBM's line of Intel-based servers that enable
customers to confidently run their e-businesses. The xSeries leverages
IBM's X-Architecture leadership to provide highly scalable and reliable
servers, which incorporate the latest mainframe technologies at the right
price for customers of all sizes.

Pricing and Availability

This offer is available today from ShopIBM or by dialing 1-888-shop-ibm
(keycode 7609) for small businesses with up to 100 users and combines IBM's
Small Business Suite for Linux v.1.6 with three different models of the
xSeries server at a 10 percent discount (US list price):

   The Entry System (IBM Small Business Suite for Linux with the xSeries
   200) is listed at $1,549;
   The Value System (IBM Small Business Suite for Linux with the xSeries
   220) is listed at $3,869; and the
   Performance System (IBM Small Business Suite for Linux with the xSeries
   220 running on 933 MHz Intel Pentium III processor) is listed at $7,089.

Each of the xSeries configurations offered are preloaded with Caldera's
OpenLinux eServer 2.3 operating system.

Companies may license the Small Business Suite for Linux for a maximum of
100 registered users per organization. User licenses are sold separately
for $90 per user and include a license for browser based access to any
server component for Linux desktops and a license for native Lotus Notes
and DB2 clients for Windows desktops.  The IBM Suites Installer and desktop
software is available translated in the following languages:  English,
French, German, Italian, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Simplified Chinese,
Traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

About IBM

IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of
leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM Software offers the widest
range of applications, middleware and operating systems for all types of
computing platforms, allowing customers to take full advantage of the new
era of e-business. IBM's Small Business Suite for Linux won best-of-show
honors at this year's LinuxWorld in New York.  The fastest way to get more
information about this promotion is by visiting:
http://www.ibm.com/linux/sbs.

###

*Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds.
**The IBM e-business logo, xSeries, iSeries and zSeries are all trademarks
of IBM Corporation.  All others are trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective companies.