Ingram Micro gets first dibs on IBM Smart Cube

Ingram Micro can now sell IBM’s Smart Cubes, making it the first broadline distributor to lay claim to these appliance-like devices for SMBs.

The Smart Cubes bundle IBM hardware, OS and management software along with applications for specific customer types. IBM Business partners can furthter customize the appliance for their clients. Last month, IBM and Intuit unveiled a new Smart Cube that runs Linux or the IBM I (OS/400) operating system, appropriate middleware and Intuit’s popular QuickBooks Enterprise accounting software.

With this deal Ingram Micro, IBM’s largest distribution partner, is the first to offer Smart Cubes in the U.S. In many cases with such deals, Tech Data or other distributors soon follow suit.

Smart Cubes come  out of IBM’s new Smart Business group. Smart Cubes are only available to authorized IBM channel partners.