IBM Selects NetObjects Matrix

IBM Global Services and NetObjects today announced plans for a new Web Services project to be unveiled later this year, aimed at helping smaller, less technically sophisticated and budget-strapped organizations get online.

IBM and NetObjects will provide Web site applications and services that are already packaged and integrated to meet the needs of these organizations. The offering will be powered by NetObjects Matrix, a platform that allows various Web Services to integrate seamlessly into the Web site building and hosting process.

“After evaluating various technologies, we determined that NetObjects Matrix gives us the greatest flexibility to customize solutions and produce superior results for our customers,” said Jake Moore, senior product manager, IBM. “We see tremendous opportunity in the remarketing of this platform.”

Unveiled at last week’s JavaOne conference, NetObjects Matrix offers an open platform that makes it easy for IBM to integrate current and potential future partner technologies into an IBM branded service. Core features include a customized wizard to help new users create a Web site in minutes and a WYSIWYG Web Builder application.

NetObjects’ open, component-based interfaces allow NetObjects to integrate third-party Web Services into the Web site building and hosting process – giving small businesses the ability to mix and match Web Services to create a tailored solution, and providing end-users and channel partners greater flexibility in the solutions they configure or sell.

These integrated third-party services delivered through the platform include NetLedger’s 1 System small business management software, Miva’s Merchant e-commerce solution, LivePerson’s eCRM offerings, professional images licensed from Corbis and Web hosting solutions from EarthLink.

NetObjects markets Matrix through programs aimed at channel partners that target small businesses. A Wholesale ASP Program and Retail ASP Program help channel partners resell packaged solutions to their key retail accounts or small business customers by leveraging the NetObjects ASP hosting infrastructure. The Retail ISP Program helps channel partners sell solutions to their small business customers by leveraging their own Web site hosting infrastructure.

“Our partner strategy is helping more end-users get their hands on our products. We look forward to supporting IBM in its initiatives and rolling out more solutions like this over the next few quarters,” said Samir Arora, chairman and CEO of NetObjects Inc.