The Latest News from GROUP Live

New Offer provides SMEs with Easier Access to Cloud Computing

IBM provides infrastructure and hosting for GROUP Live
IBM Lotus software and DB2 available on the platform as SaaS solution

Frankfurt/Stuttgart/Berlin, 25 January, 2010 – IBM provides the technical infrastructure for GROUP Live, the "Platform as a Service" (PaaS) offer from GROUP Business Software AG. As recently agreed for a term of five years, the platform will be hosted in the IBM data center in Ehningen. In addition, both companies have concluded a software OEM agreement, planning to integrate IBM Lotus and DB2 into the GROUP Live PaaS solution and offer the software on a monthly rental basis. The offer is targeted at independent software vendors (ISVs) and their customers. It is the first of its kind in Germany based on IBM technology.

GROUP Live delivers a comprehensive PaaS solution especially tailored to the needs of ISVs. Provided with access to a state-of-the-art infrastructure with limited initial investment, they can use the platform, for instance, to develop or test software. Further down the line, they can use GROUP Live to deliver any new developments to their customers and thus enter into the SaaS market. The major advantage: with GROUP Live as PaaS, ISVs and their customers have access to IBM technologies such as Lotus and DB2 with no hosting contract required.

"We are happy that our long-standing partner GROUP Business Software has opted for IBM server technology and our hosting offer. GROUP Live and the software rental model make it considerably easier for ISVs to enter into the SaaS business", says Doris Albiez, Vice President Business Partner Organisation and Midmarket, IBM Germany. "This sales model will allow them to reach a larger clientele with their solutions and thus meet the increasing demand for cloud applications, in particular from small and medium-sized companies."

The new offer provides high cost-effectiveness combined with ease of use. "With the GROUP Live platform, complicated installations, cost-intensive hardware and time-consuming management will become something of the past. Together with our partner IBM, we provide companies with a first-time opportunity for a quick and cost-efficient entry into the SaaS market", Constanze Zarth, Managing Director at GROUP Live, explains.

solvito GmbH, a medium-sized provider of CRM solutions, is the first customer to have opted for the new platform. According to Jörg Baumann, Managing Director at solvito GmbH, "the high flexibility of the PaaS solution along with the quick and convenient access to new customer segments were the key factors in our decision in favor of PaaS from GROUP Live."

Under the "IBM SaaS Specialty Program", ISVs using the GROUP Live offer for themselves and their customers receive sales and marketing support from IBM. In addition, GROUP Business Software will also actively market the platform both nationally and internationally.

About IBM

For further information please visit www.ibm.com/press/en/en/

Further information for journalists:

European Headquarters
GROUP Business Software AG
MesseTurm
60308 Frankfurt/Germany
Phone: +49 69 789 8819-0
Fax: +49 69 789 8819-99

North American Headquarters
GROUP Business Software Corporation
40 Wall Street, 33rd Floor
New York, NY 10005/USA
Phone: +1 212 995-2900
Fax: +1 212 995-2206


contact@grouplive.com
www.grouplive.com

IBM Deutschland GmbH
Christine Paulus
External Relations
Tel: +49 89 4504 1396
Mobil: +49 151 14270446
E-Mail: christine.paulus@de.ibm.com