In case your clients have mentioned HP's latest mainframe tactic, 'Take the TCO Challenge,' you can present the facts in a new deck.   This material takes HP Myths and replaces them with data, proof points and logic.  System z, in this new, for-public-use competitive deck, takes the high ground, and you can too.  The following materials are available for your immediate use:

• PowerPoint deck, including speaker notes, for your presentation to your clients.  
• PDF as a customer-ready handout to share with your clients
• Audio MP3 - a taped coaching from the deck's producer on how to present this compelling System z material
  

• Quick Proposal Process (QPP)Support Documents
• Sizing
• RFP FAQs

On October 7, 2008, IBM Rational announced new and enhanced software to help accelerate the adoption of Web 2.0 and SOA for the System z environment.  The new capabilities enable companies and customers to simplify team collaboration and development - including Web 2.0 and Jazz technologies. 

Do you need to develop and deliver new workloads across platforms while breaking down skills, organization, and geographic boundaries?  If yes, then click the link below which will send you to key information such as:

• New case studies from customers in Europe and Americas
• New Enterprise Generation Language video
• New Web 2.0 Seminar for IBM z
• New product demos
• New White papers highlighting the business value of solutions
• New webcasts outlining how to get started and an overview of the solutions

• The exclusive, complimentary Business Partner Summit
• The Pulse 2009 conference: industry-specific focus on IBM Service Management
• The opportunity to:
  • Win an IBM Tivoli 2009 Business Partner Award
  • Gain recognition as a Tivoli Accredited Business Partner
  • Showcase your solutions to customers as an Exhibitor & Sponsor
  • Present as a speaker - call for speakers open through November 7th

• Call for Papers:  Rational Software Development Conference
• IBM Rational software invites you to submit your papers for the 12th annual Rational Software Development Conference, which will be held May 31 - June 4, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. Over 4,000 individuals will join us for this industry-leading event to attend sessions, visit our exhibit hall, and participate in many more activities at the conference. Contribute to your community’s collective wisdom as we explore strategies for transforming business results through software development excellence. Help others become Rational!.
• The Call for Papers deadline is Monday, December 15th!
• Submit your application today
• New Case Studies! 
• Montreal Informatica case study for mainframe customers - This case study discusses the transformation of core business systems using Enterprise Generation Language (EGL).
• KfW Bankengruppe case study for mainframe customers - Read about how KfW invests in a new unified development platform using IBM Rational Developer for System z software.
• BayernLB case study for mainframe customers - BayernLB consolidates with IBM Rational Developer for System z software.
   
• New Webcast!  Accelerating development of new applications and services on the mainframe
• Together, IBM’s modern, open powerhouse mainframe and the Rational® enterprise modernization solutions can enable your organization to unleash the power and value of IT systems quickly, as well as to easily and economically to support rapidly changing business needs. Come find out how our customers are utilizing these solutions to help increase ROI and reduce risk by leveraging proven code on the System z™ platform.  View the webcast here.
   
• Rational Mainframe e-kit
• Extend modern application lifecycle management to IBM System z through the IBM® Rational® Software Delivery Platform (SDP). Register now to take advantage of this collection of resources designed to help ease the challenges of modernizing your enterprise. This kit contains the following podcasts, webcasts, tutorials, white and red papers, demos, and articles.  Come visit it today.

• 2009:

• Lotusphere:   January 18-22 (Orlando, FL)
• Pulse:   February 8-12 (Las Vegas, NV)
  

• November 13:   You are invited to the next quarterly IBM System z update, "System z 4Q 2008 ISV and SI Quarterly Technical Marketing Call: System z Update and a Websphere on z/OS presentation..
  
• Two topics of great interest will be provided during our 4th Quarter 2008 Technical Marketing call
• The latest up to date and new information on System z10 hardware
• WebSphere for z/OS: "Exploiting the Power of z/OS and Expanding the Playing Field for ISVs".
• Your customers have z/OS systems doing important work for their companies. Many also have WebSphere Application Server, but perhaps not on z/OS. In this presentation we'll first discuss the degree of commonality that exists between WebSphere on the differerent platforms. Then we'll look at how WebSphere z/OS exploits the power of its platform, giving ISV applications the best of both worlds -- the open standard compliance at the application level with the key value benefits of the z/OS platform bubbling away at the lower levels. If your customers can see that WebSphere z/OS can become part of their overall WebSphere strategy, it can expand the playing field and open up new opportunities for hosting your solutions on z/OS.
• Join us on  Thursday, November 13, 2008 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM EST.
  

• Improve your TCO by moving to Linux on System z – comprehensive IBM solutions that can provide a better ROI 
• Attend one of our free half-day technical seminars to learn how using the mainframe to consolidate Linux workloads can help give you a more flexible, cost-efficient environment.  Learn more and register now for seminars across the US in November
  

• Upcoming System z Software Top Gun classes in 2009: 
• February 9-13:   Washington DC
• February 23-27:  Tokyo
• April 20-24:  Rome 
  
• May 25-29:  Singapore
• July 6-10:  Frankfurt
• August 24-28:  Washington DC
• October 5-9:  Prague
  

• Come Together with System z:  System z and system z software overview messaging video. Follow different teams within a company work to meet the HQ challenge to bring  business and IT together
• Good as a kick off for events, meetings, briefings or system z software value enablement.
• Available on IBM TV
  

• Destination z Community video:  Includes interview excerpts from eight different Business Partner members of Destination z filmed late August in San Jose (at SHARE) and Manhattan. 
• Available on IBM TV 
  
• This is also available from the Destination z webpage
  

• System z Can('t) do Everything: A series of tongue-in-cheek videos highlighting some of the things that System z is not good at.  These can easily be embedded in presentations.  Could be a break pieces in day sessions, ice breaker, transition into what z CAN do,......and much more.   Ideas of other scenarios welcome
• Series details:
• Gym Spotter
• Babysitter
• Valet
• or they are all on a YouTube mini site
  

• z10 announcement videos for the IBM System z10 Business class announcement and System z10 Business Class Technology Benefits
  

• ***Coming soon***  Central Bank of Russia video testimonial on consolidating on System z  (it will be posted here on System z Software customer testimonial site)
• You can read the case study here