iSoftStone and IBM Officially Launched Cloud Service Platform for SMEs in Northwest China

BEIJING, May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- iSoftStone Holdings Limited ("iSoftStone,"NYSE: ISS), a leading China-based IT services and solutions provider, and International Business Machines ("IBM"), the largest IT and business solutions provider today announced a collaboration to build www.xb-cloud.cn ("XB-CLOUD"), a Cloud Service Platform for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises ("SMEs") in Northwest China. The two companies, together with Industry and IT Committee of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Municipal Government, and China Mobile Gansu also recently officially established the Cloud Service Association for SMEs of Gansu Province. These initiatives aim at facilitating SMEs' daily operations through efficient use of cloud computing and promote Lanzhou as a model of the Northwest China in using advance technology to drive industries' growth.

The establishment of XB-CLOUD and Cloud Service Association for SMEs of Gansu Province is an extension of the Cloud Computing Service Center for SMEs in Northwest China co-launched by Lanzhou Municipal Government, China Mobile Gansu and IBM last year. The Cloud Computing Service Center has been built in China Mobile Gansu's Xigu premises, and the initial phase of cloud computing services platform and application development are completed. 

Contributing to the collaborative effects, iSoftStone will leverage its experience in cloud computing and smart city to provide support in the whole lifecycle management of XB-CLOUD including infrastructure and application development, deployment and operation, while IBM will provide its excellent consultation services and hardware facilities and products. XB-CLOUD currently provides a wide range of services that meet SMEs' every aspect of needs including communication services, coordinated office management, production management and sales management, etc.

The Chinese government attached great importance on the development of cloud computing, and listed it as a strategic and emerging industry in its 12th Five-Year Plan. The output value of China's cloud computing industry chain is expected to reach RMB200 billion by 2016. SMEs will benefit enormously from utilizing cloud computing to save cost and enhance efficiency in IT infrastructure set-up, to facilitate scalable application and information sharing, and to be equipped with various software application services to meet specific needs at different stages of their business development.

In the opening ceremony, Niu Xiangdong, Vice Mayor of Lanzhou Municipal Government said, "After ten months' of initial set-up, XB-CLOUD has been officially launched. This marks the completion and official introduction of the first cloud computing project in Northwest China. Without the joint efforts and coordination of China Mobile Gansu, IBM and iSoftStone, this can never be achieved." Niu spoke highly of the quick launch and introduction of the platform.

Kang Yanwen, Executive Vice-President of iSoftStone said, "A hundred years ago, the Yellow River Bridge connected both sides of the Yellow River. Today, IT is the bridge connecting SMEs and their informatization developments. iSoftStone is truly honored to be the builder and operator of XB-CLOUD. The successful launch of this platform marked a milestone in our company's cloud computing development history and has also lead the industry by introducing a new and innovative payment model to integrate SMEs and mobile operators' bill settlement platforms. iSoftStone will continue to be the operator of XB-CLOUD to help mobile operators to implement and promote cloud services among SMEs." 

Chen Gu, Chief Technology Officer of IBM Software Group in Greater China said, "Cloud computing is not just about integration and sharing of IT resources, but also a new business innovation model to create an ecological environment of economic development, helping all enterprises to utilize cloud computing to improve their business performance."

Set up at the same time, the Cloud Service Association for SMEs of Gansu Province was initiated by Industry and IT Committee of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Municipal Government, China Mobile Gansu and IBM. As the deputy alliance member of the association, iSoftStone will assist in the promotion and implementation of cloud services. Other alliance members of the association consist of 10 universities including Lanzhou University and Northwest Normal University, China Mobile Gansu and other IT companies.

About iSoftStone

iSoftStone (NYSE: ISS) is a leading China-based IT services provider, serving clients in both China and the world. iSoftStone provides an integrated suite of IT services and solutions including Consulting & Solutions, IT Services and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services. Its comprehensive end-to-end service offerings support expansion to fit the scope and scale of client engagements. iSoftStone focuses on key industry verticals including technology, communications, banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), healthcare, and energy, transportation and public sector (ETP). For more, please visit http://www.isoftstone.com/en

SOURCE iSoftStone