Sun Microsystems Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Computer Associates — Middle East (CA-ME) unveiled a new iForce collaboration that will support testing facilities for enterprise management and security solutions at the Tech Access Solutions Center — the Sun Authorized iForce Ready Center in Dubai.
The agreement between the technology vendors enables companies across the region to evaluate CA-ME’s Unicenter enterprise management solutions and eTrust security solutions at the “proof of concept” center. Organizations will be able to use the Center’s facilities to test the strengths of different applications and assess the potential return on investment of their planned technology projects.
“Testing and evaluation form a critical part of the decision-making process for companies looking to invest in enterprise management and security solutions. We’re delighted that this agreement will enable organizations in the region to fully assess the joint value of Sun and CA solutions before they invest,” said Abdulaziz Al Salloum, MD, Computer Associates ME.
“Through the iForce partnership and the world-class facilities of the Tech Access Solutions Center, CA-ME and Sun Microsystems will now be able to demonstrate the combined power and potential of our state-of-the-art solutions. Based on the rising demand in the market for testing solutions, the center is bound to bolster our shared success in the region,” said Stavros Vougas, channel and marketing manager, Sun Microsystems Middle East & North Africa.
The Solutions Centre is a collaborative effort between Sun and its regional channel development partner Tech Access. “The key to the global success of iForce is the ethos of ‘proof-of-concept.’ It is a test-before-you-invest customer approach, that we hope will prove a highly valuable resource for regional customers who want to ensure that their technology choices fit their business demands,” said Shomail Ghalib, MD, Tech Access.
Sun Microsystems has also announced that its Saudi road shows met with considerable success. Several hundred decision-makers attended seminars hosted by Sun in Riyadh and Jeddah. Local Sun partners Abdulla Fouad and ACS supported the events, which included presentations by IFS Arabia on ERP solutions, Enigmatis on unified commerce management, and Computer Associates ME on security and enterprise management solutions.
“Saudi-based companies in key sectors are operating in an environment where there is increased competition. With this change in market dynamics, Sun is witnessing greater demand for effective and affordable IT solutions, rather than the more expensive-to-buy and costly-to-operate server platforms available from other technology providers,” said John Foster, volume systems manager, Sun Microsystems Southeastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa region.
“Our entry-level and mid-range solutions and integrated systems approach have garnered tremendous market momentum, especially in markets like Saudi Arabia, which have a burgeoning ‘emerging business’ sector,” added Foster. “Customers want open, integratable systems that offer enterprise-class features, service and support for an entry-level investment.”
— Arab News CompuNet 30 September 2003