(September 4, 2003) - This week, IBM introduced three new software solutions specifically designed to meet the needs of businesses in the automotive, government, and life science sectors. IBM created these solutions to address critical issues and serve as a central source of information tailored to specific industry needs.

The new solutions, which include IBM software and pre-tested applications, allow customers to create a Web-based environment that helps streamline business processes and improves integration. The solutions are based on IBM WebSphere and Lotus software, giving businesses an open, standards-based platform that can work with a variety of operating environments, including Linux and Microsoft Windows, for added flexibility.

IBM Software Solution for Automotive Dealer Collaboration
The Automotive Dealer Collaboration offering helps automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), enhance and expand the relationships they have with thousands of dealers, fleets and independent repair shops. With this solution, which is based on WebSphere Commerce, WebSphere Portal, and Lotus Collaboration software, OEMs and suppliers can quickly enhance their relationships with dealers by giving them secure access to critical information over a simple Internet connection. The Automotive Dealer Collaboration solution is designed to help consolidate information into a collaborative environment, which is far more productive and less expensive to maintain, making it easier for OEMs and suppliers to communicate and work with their dealers.

IBM WebSphere Portal for e-Government Access
The WebSphere Portal for e-Government Access offering is designed to assist governments in integrating applications, processes, management and delivery channels that link their internal agencies with outside stakeholders with Web-based technologies. By providing government agencies with a solution that can serve as a single point of access to services and information, IBM's helping governments streamline access to resources and information, integrate existing systems, reduce paperwork by providing online self-service and increase efficiency while maintaining security and protecting citizen privacy.

IBM WebSphere Portal for Life Science Syndicated Content
The WebSphere Portal for Life Science Syndicated Content is designed to respond to the collaborative information access and personalization needs of pharmaceutical, life science research, and health care companies. Through the life sciences portal, IBM is offering a content delivery method to bring subscription-based external research, internal content, and collaborative applications together for users to access, share, discuss, and take action. IBM is facilitating life sciences companies to decrease the time spent searching for documentation and information in support of innovation, remove the need for repetitive tasks of subscription and information filtering, and increase efficiency of individuals by placing all necessary information in a single interface and within similar applications.