Initiative is part of a larger move to outsource more jobs to partners.
The initiative is part of a larger move throughout IBM to outsource more jobs for midrange and small business customers to outside partners. Ultimately, IBM will extend the new Web sites to 300 new midrange sales territories worldwide, according to Christine Walter, IBM's director for global mid-market and business partner marketing. IBM established the 300 territories for midrange accounts during a reorganization that got under way in January. Each territory is staffed by a territory manager, territory partner manager, territory marketing managers, and IBM inside sales reps. For the future, Big Blue is thinking about extending both the Web sites and the territory structure to the small business market, Walter said, during a meeting at IBM's recent PartnerWorld show in Atlanta.