Forbes.com: Under The Radar: IBM’s Mobile Strategy

June 28 2010

Not quite two weeks ago, IBM held a "mobility day" event for press and analysts in our Massachusetts Labs (Littleton).   I blogged about Alistair Rennie's presentation from that day, but wasn't able to capture some of the other events and messages.  It turns out there, was a lot of analysis written about that day, from analysts like Redmonk and Hurwitz to mainstream press.  I really liked this short article in Forbes, which kind of makes the point of the whole thing:

I'm sitting in an all-day mobility confab with other analysts at IBM in Littleton, Mass. Around me, all these stodgy, old IBMers are flipping through iPads, tapping on iPhones and fingering BlackBerrys.
Hmm, I don't think I fit either of the adjectives but I am flipping through an iPad...anway...
I had no idea how developed the company's mobility strategy actually is, and neither did anyone else, which I suppose is why management decided to call this meeting in the first place. IBM's marketing can be a haven of well-kept secrets.

Turns out IBM's software group writes a lot of code specifically for the iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry--oh, and Android and even Windows Mobile. These people are testing their own products on approved platforms. ... The essential theme of the day is that work is becoming more mobile, and technology suppliers must adjust to that reality. IBM's software is being rewritten to deal with the mobile world. ...

IBM will never sell a phone, but it most definitely does have a mobile strategy. And don't be too surprised if that bearded professor flipping pages on an iPad at the table next to you in Starbucks turns out to be an IBM employee. And actually, not all of the employees are old and stodgy. That's just a myth. Big Blue has come a long way since 1984.
Pretty cool.

Link: Forbes.com: Under The Radar: IBM's Mobile Strategy >

Ed Brill | Highland Park, IL USA Category:  IBM  Add/View Comments [12]

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  1. 1  Mike  | 6/28/2010 2:10:05 PM

    "IBM's marketing can be a haven of well-kept secrets."

    I am as glad as you are about this reporter's article being so positive. However, the statement above is the continuing issue with getting out individual strategy's (mobile, collaboration, Domino, etc.) of specific lines of business from IBM into the public eye.

    "Smarter Planet" is a great tag line. I just don't know that it brings home the "what does it mean to me". It doesn't translate well to individual product line strategys. "Smarter Planet" can/should be the headline under which everything can be sold.

    "Today we will be talking about a "Smarter Planet" by talking about our collaboration platforms (Domino, Quickr, Foundations and Sametime) and how they work with your needs."

  1. 2  Nick Halliwell http://www.comware.net | 6/29/2010 12:19:59 AM

    I agree with #1 comments.

    I have been saying for years IBM is very very poor about getting its message out. My company has done several brand new installations this year and each time when we start training the users I play a little game with them. This is to make up for the lack of knowledge that the great general public have of IBM or Notes.

    I ask which is the biggest company, IBM or MS, Guess what everyone says. I also ask if any one has any product on them that contains an IBM product, nothing. So I ask people to take out there mobile phone and say that many of the phone contain IBM chips. I have a few more, but its a good way of getting them to understand that MS is the minnow here and Notes IBM/Lotus.

    But WHY do I have to do IBM job for them, especially with out pay.

    Come on Ed, it would be so easy for IBM to get the above message out in simple add in papers, would not even cost a lot, but then people who know who IBM and Lotus are.

    I will keep dreaming.

  1. 3  Julian Woodward  | 6/29/2010 1:05:16 AM

    Good comments from Forbes - well done.

    But "IBM's marketing can be a haven of well-kept secrets." is hardly a glowing endorsement, is it? Actually, it's exactly the sort of thing that Bill might say, although I suspect your reaction to the criticism would be somewhat different then. Just saying.

    PS. No, you're not 'old' :-)

  1. 4  Ed Brill http://Www.edbrill.com | 6/29/2010 6:11:55 AM

    I think all three comments missed the point of why I chose this particular article to blog. Sometimes, I do agree with you all.

  1. 5  Peter Wilson  | 6/29/2010 6:49:19 AM

    IBM Marketing = Missing in In-Action

    Sorry..but you ya godda wonder

    Pete

  1. 6  Tim Haugen  | 6/29/2010 9:15:59 PM

    OK, so it's not the point you meant to make, and I'm not the first to point this out, but I had already copied / ready to paste, "IBM's marketing can be a haven of well-kept secrets." Much more politely put than I've heard this sentiment in the past - or stated it myself.

    IBM/Lotus leaves it to "us" internal folks to do the marketing, and seems to think that's a good idea. Most of "us" are IT folks, not necessarily skilled marketers. We may not have the complete story. We have a responsibility to research and present best options for our firms. If we're backed into "marketing" IBM/Lotus products for you, we can end up being discounted as biased.

  1. 7  Wiebe van Bruggen http://www.changetocomm.nl | 6/30/2010 9:24:55 AM

    I note the point of the blog. How nice the blog is for IBM and the products involved, the most important line by far is indeed:

    "IBM's marketing can be a haven of well-kept secrets."

    Here we have a seemingly highly regarded, not IBM committed, person saying something we (IBM/Lotus community from all over the world it seems) are saying for several years now.

    Basically: 'We have great stuff, but nobody in the real world knows about it'

    Ed, please listen to your BP's concerning this issue.

  1. 8  Brian M O’Curran http://www.doingmorewithless.biz | 7/1/2010 5:22:04 AM

    Ed, you have no idea how perfect this post if for today's first meeting. Thanks for reading my mind!

    Oh, and "haven of well-kept secrets" is going to get a reuse in about 2 hours!

    - Brian

  1. 9  Alan Lepofsky http://www.alanlepofsky.net | 7/1/2010 9:34:21 AM

    Gees folks, how about mentioning the line "which I suppose is why management decided to call this meeting in the first place." It appears that IBM was at least trying to make those secret plans public.

  1. 10  Kerr Rainey  | 7/1/2010 9:44:02 AM

    @9, Alan, Alan, Alan. Who on earth do you think you are? Coming in here, being all reasonable. It just won't do. :)

  1. 11  Alan Lepofsky http://www.alanlepofsky.net | 7/1/2010 12:52:58 PM

    @10 - I know, crazy me, eh?

  1. 12  Tony Rorai  | 7/2/2010 3:01:50 PM

    Ed, just got back from Cisco Live, and the first thought that came through my mind when the Cius was announced was how nice Traveler will look on a 7 inch screen.