IBM Launches First SoftLayer Data Center in Australia Extending Local Cloud Computing Capabilities

MELBOURNE, Australia, Aug. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that SoftLayer, an IBM Company, plans to launch its first Australian data center in Melbourne in September. It will be the latest of 15 new data centers that IBM plans to open as part of a $1.2 billion dollar global investment to strengthen and extend its cloud services in Asia Pacific and around the world.  The new onshore SoftLayer data center will meet Australian organizations' demands for secure, in-country enterprise-grade IBM cloud services that can deliver hybrid, private and public cloud environments.

The Melbourne data center offers the full portfolio of SoftLayer's cloud services to include bare metal and virtual servers, storage, and networking, all in one integrated platform. Replicating the design of other SoftLayer data centers around the globe, the Melbourne facility will have capacity for more than 15,000 physical servers.  The onshore facility provides Australian customers with local residency for their data that is secure, resilient and can be easily integrated with existing infrastructure to provide a robust hybrid environment.  A second Australian SoftLayer data center is planned to open later this year.

As organizations look to achieve higher scalability, performance, transparency and security they are relying on IBM's enterprise-grade cloud offerings.  Peter Bourke, the Director of Information Technology Scentre Group (ASX: SCG), owner and operator of Westfield in Australia and New Zealand,  said a hybrid cloud approach will further enable Scentre Group to continue to deliver iconic retail experiences for customers.

"Our industry is rapidly transforming and we need to be ready to quickly respond to these changes. Today's empowered consumer is looking for an integrated personalized shopping, lifestyle and entertainment experience. A hybrid cloud strategy will allow the flexibility and scalability to meet these needs.  The SoftLayer offering provides an interesting option for a hybrid cloud environment," said Bourke.

"Australia is an important market for IBM and SoftLayer. We are seeing a strong appetite for cloud in this market, particularly towards the hybrid cloud model. We are investing in Australia, combining and strengthening our existing cloud capabilities.  We now offer customers high value, enterprise grade hybrid cloud environment," said Lance Crosby CEO SoftLayer.  "IBM's ability to offer Australian businesses in-country access to SoftLayer's global cloud infrastructure will further accelerate cloud adoption amongst a new breed of organizations that is constantly ready and responding to change."

Opening the new facility, the Victorian Minister for Technology Gordon Rich-Phillips welcomed the IBM announcement as another significant international investment in Victoria's information and communications technology capabilities and skills; and a valuable addition to the state's world-class technology ecosystem.

Other Australian organizations across enterprise, small and medium sized companies, start-ups and developers are all looking to IBM's best in class cloud infrastructure to build and scale their mission critical applications. These include:

• Rightship and Loft Group are taking advantage of SoftLayer cloud solutions to build and scale their mission critical applications.
• HotelsCombined is using SoftLayer to service more than 30 million visitors per month to their site, transacting in 120 currencies and 40 languages.
• Tech startups Digital Market Square, Bugwolf, Cartesian and Portland Software are developing applications on SoftLayer using IBM's development platform Bluemix.

IBM has recently partnered with one of Australia's largest IT distributor's, Avnet Technology Solutions, to build a robust business partner network in Australia to deliver SoftLayer services to the mid-market.

IBM's partner ecosystem continues to expand with local Managed Service Partners' including Offis, Bendigo Community Telco and Integr8IT using SoftLayer to provide customers with a host of Infrastructure-as-a-Service solutions.  SoftLayer is also being used by companies  like Nexright to deploy enterprise applications at the speed of start-ups.  Cloud brokers and Platform-as-a-Service providers like Platformer and ISW have integrated SoftLayer into their cloud marketplace, while ISVs, software developers and integrators like Mutuality Corp, Aviarc, Certus, eMagine and Novatti are making business applications more accessible through Software-as-a-Service offerings delivered on SoftLayer.

Learn more about SoftLayer in Australia at: http://www-07.ibm.com/au/cloud2014/media

Follow the conversation at #EIC2014

About IBM Cloud Computing
IBM is the global leader in cloud with an unmatched portfolio of open cloud solutions to enable clients for the hybrid cloud era with integration, control over data and expertise. IBM Cloud has helped more than 30,000 clients around the world.  Today, IBM has 100+ cloud SaaS solutions, thousands of experts with deep industry knowledge helping clients transform and a growing global network of data centers.  Since 2007, IBM has invested more than $7 billion in 17 acquisitions to accelerate its cloud initiatives. IBM holds 1,560 cloud patents focused on driving innovation. In fact, IBM for the 21st consecutive year topped the annual list of US patent leaders. IBM processes more the 5.5M client transactions daily through IBM's public cloud.  For more information about cloud

Media Contact
Nicholas Smith
IBM Media Relations
1 (212) 671-9653
[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO 

SOURCE IBM