Made in IBM Labs: First IBM Software Development Lab in Malaysia

PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA, Jan 22 (MARKET WIRE) --
IBM (NYSE: IBM) has announced its first software development lab in
Malaysia. The lab will help accelerate the creation of products for IBM's Tivoli
Netcool software group that focuses on the communications service providers.

The lab builds upon IBM's deep R&D commitment focused on the designing and
developing first-of-a-kind solutions that respond to customers' computing
challenges. There are currently 120 software engineers working in the lab
with plans to increase by another 30 in 2008.

"The software development lab highlights Malaysia's role as an important
location
to help fulfill our global research, development and business strategy," said Ou
Shian Waei, Managing Director, IBM Malaysia. "As a globally integrated
company, we are committed to drawing on locally established skills and talent to
create value for clients worldwide."

According to IDC Malaysia, the telco market in Malaysia is worth US$ 5,505.9
million. Telecom providers around the world need to defend service revenues and
stimulate growth as tough competition demands faster service creation and
delivery and an enhanced user experience.

Telecommunications companies today are facing a major shift from traditional
voice services to non-voice services, such as music and video. Companies are
also facing a shift from land lines to voice over IP.

"The lab here is part of more than 80 IBM development laboratories around
the
world giving these teams excellent access to the latest technology and talent
to research and develop the industry leading software," said Gilbert Ho,
Software
Engineering Senior Manager for Tivoli software, IBM Malaysia. "We are committed
to
extending the Vallent product line and integrating them with the broader Tivoli
and
IBM portfolio."

The engineers at the lab are developing applications for all Tivoli
NetcoolPerformance Management products worldwide to customers.

"This knowledge-driven investment by IBM is significant for Malaysia,"
saidDato' Badlisham Ghazali, CEO of Multimedia Development Corporation Sdn Bhd
(MDeC). "The benefits are tremendous in terms of the sophisticated
softwaretechnology that will be developed locally, the skilled positions that
will be
created and the endorsement by an industry leader that Malaysia is providing
the requirements for IBM's future in research and development."

Ghazali continued, "The software development lab is also in line with MSC
Malaysia's aspirations to become a global partner to companies worldwide and to
increase the pool of internationally recognized k-workers. This is great
opportunity for local knowledge workers and to make Malaysia a regional hub
for information and communications technology (ICT) talent. IBM is globally
renowned for its commitment to R&D and we are proud to provide the
technological expertise and innovative people that contribute to the company's
worldwide evolution."

MDeC will be working closely together with IBM Malaysia to identify and
place
its qualified candidates under MSC Malaysia K-Workers Development Initiative
(KDI) in
IBM's software development lab.

"This strategic move helps both parties to realize the potential of the
country's ICT knowledge resources," he said.

In February 2007, IBM completed the acquisition of Vallent, a leading
provider of
operational support and network management software. Vallent had an established
presence in Malaysia, employing 100 people. The Vallent technology, now part of
Tivoli software at IBM, helps wireless service providers manage the performance
of their IT network infrastructure through monitoring and reporting of wireless
service quality and potential network problems before they impact a customer's
experience.

About IBM Tivoli Netcool Software

IBM Tivoli Netcool software has been selected by more than 1,000 service
providers globally, including all of the top 20 carriers. The software helps
service providers ensure service quality; reduce operational costs and speed
time to market. IBM software helps service providers address emerging
opportunities in next-generation network transformation, fixed/mobile
convergence, and IP
Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) deployment.

For more information about IBM Tivoli Netcool software, visit
www-306.ibm.com/software/tivoli/solutions/service-provider/.

About IBM

More information on IBM can be found at www.ibm.com.

All future dates and specifications are estimations only; subject to
changewithout notice.

IBM, the IBM logo, Netcool and Tivoli are trademarks of International
Business Machines
Corporation in the United States, other countries or both. For a list of
additional IBM trademarks, please see www.ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml

Other company, product and service names may be trademarks or service
marksof others.

Media Contact:
Annushia Balavijendran
IBM Malaysia Sdn Bhd
annushia@my.ibm.com
603-23018888

Copyright 2008, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

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