IBM Tries To Lure Developers With Free ServicesIBM Tries To Lure Developers With Free Services

IBM on Monday expanded its technical services to independent software developers, offering free limited-time access to its consultants. Any developers signing up to participate in the PartnerWorld Industry Network program on IBM's Virtual Innovation Center Web site can get six months of unlimited E-mail technical support and a two- to three-hour individual telephone consultation.

"We're trying to help developers get their applications to the marketplace," says Todd Chase, director of IBM innovation centers.

The free resources are intended to help developers create software for specific applications such as customer-relationship management or for specific technologies such as grid computing that operate within an IBM environment or platform, he says.

IBM has made similar resources available in the past to some of its top strategic partners, but "for some period of time we're opening up these resources to everyone."

Although IBM has not disclosed a date when the access to the resources will end, the program will only be offered for a limited time, Chase says. "I encourage people to get out there and take advantage while this being offered," he says.

The technical-support packages can be found at www.ibm.com/isv.