IBM Leverages Impole for System i Pipeline Growth

Initiative to Develop Micro-markets for ISV Partners in VIP Program

Waltham, MA - April 16, 2007 - IBM has selected Impole Corporation, the leading provider of revenue acceleration services for B2B markets, to develop pipeline opportunities to support the highly publicized VIP program.

Core to the VIP program, IBM has identified 100 sub-industries or "micro markets" that represent significant growth opportunity for System i based solutions.  This includes seemingly esoteric niches such as local labor unions, wholesalers of specialty products (medical, janitorial, sanitation) and even casinos for client management.  Organizations in these markets recognize the value of IT but would prefer to focus on their core business rather than complicated IT integrations issues.

To accelerate the ramp-up and marketing efforts of VIP clients, IBM has turned to Impole Corporation, a trusted IBM pipeline development partner for the past 10 years.  One of the VIP partner initiative Impole completed on behalf of IBM was the identification of labor union locals to support KMR Systems, an exclusive System i VIP partner based in New York.

While simple on the surface, the labor unions represent a challenging sales environment that illustrates one of the core differentiators of Impole.   "These target organizations are usually flat with limited staff and extremely low motivation to share their problems with others," said Eric Kraieski, Sr. VP of Impole.  "By developing a keen understand of this micro-market and KMR's unique value proposition, we have enjoyed a high degree of success in penetrating these accounts, building a one-of-a-kind marketing database for exclusive use by KMR, and most importantly, we provided a steady pipeline of short term revenue opportunities targeted to KMR's specific solution and strengths".

About IBM VIP

Announced in February 2007, the VIP Program is an initiative to expand IBM's leadership position in sub-industries where IBM believes the System i provides unique business advantage, and is delivered in partnership with local Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) specializing in these markets.

The program is based on a strong community of solution providers and integrators and focuses on solving very specific customer needs through co-marketing activities and sales support services to accelerate business.  End customers benefit from competitively priced solutions that are easy to implement and maintain.

About KMR Systems

KMR Systems is the leading provider of integrated software solutions for labor union operations.  Since 1982, KMR has been providing software solutions to Taft Hartley Benefit Funds, Unions, Third Party Administrators, Self-Insured Funds & Companies looking for customized software solutions. KMR systems is based in Syosset, NY and found on the web at: www.kmrsystems.com.

About Impole

Impole Corporation is the acknowledged leader in the provision of field derived (primary) tactical and strategic intelligence in the high technology and other market sectors in order to enhance sales and marketing effectiveness for its clients. By integrating Impole actionable intelligence into the front end of their sales and marketing processes, Impole clients reduce sales overhead while shortening sales cycles. Impole services help marketing and sales executives devise tactics for succeeding in the complex decision processes impacting the purchase of all sizes enterprise products and solutions.