SYDNEY, Dec. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that Tonkin Consulting, a leading national engineering, environmental and spatial consulting practice, will replace its existing HP switching hardware and servers with IBM PureFlex. Tonkin Consulting selected IBM to be the core component of its new enterprise-wide IT strategy to address its future needs and growth strategy because the PureFlex System integrates the server, storage, networking and software into a highly automated, simple-to-manage system.

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Working with Business Partner Vintek, IBM provided Tonkin Consulting with a PureFlex solution that includes integrated v7000 storage as well as additional IBM system networking, system x and tape storage products.

The solution is expected to significantly reduce IT costs, potentially halving management costs overall, while dramatically increasing its ability to rapidly scale up and down operations.  Additionally, the solution will enable Tonkin Consulting to quickly create and deploy a private cloud providing disaster recovery for its offices in South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

"Our incumbent systems had grown out-of-date and lacked both the reliability and functional integration needed to serve growing client demands. The IBM PureFlex System is far superior to anything else currently in the market and represents the next generation of computing with the reliability and scalability to meet our future demands, ranging from more granular project control to increased operational visibility," said Gerry Doyle, CEO, Tonkin Consulting.  "IBM's size and strategic direction, coupled with the expertise of its local business partner Vintek, aligned perfectly with Tonkin's own corporate vision of contributing to our clients' successes through innovation, value and relationships." 

The end-stage of the solution will see Vintek deploy fully-integrated IBM management and data systems across all Tonkin Consulting operations sites and assets. Tonkin Consulting also has plans to expand its work with Vintek and IBM to support its modeling applications and a new ERP/CRM system due to launch in mid-2013.

"Our objective in working with Tonkin Consulting has been to deliver a holistic approach to infrastructure, which supports the firm's long-term growth strategy," said Paul Vinton, Managing Director, Vintek.   "IBM PureFlex provides a fully integrated and optimized infrastructure that radically simplifies computing."

The deal was signed in October and the implementation of the new system will be completed in December.   

For IBM Business Partners, PureSystems creates a new services opportunity to help clients solve the complexity of enterprise IT, reduce costs and encourage innovation. From resellers to distributors and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), more than 2500 Business Partners have received PureSystems certifications. PureSystems currently run tens of thousands of existing ISV applications across four operating environments including Windows, Linux, AIX, and IBM i operating system. Additionally, Business Partners have created more than 250 new solutions and applications that are optimized to run on PureSystems. These patterns of expertise, which span 20 industries, can be accessed through the IBM PureSystems Centre. They include leading solutions from some of the world's largest ISVs, including ERP systems and applications for the banking, marketing, healthcare and energy industries.

Additionally, partners are able to perform many of the configuration and deployment services that previously came only from IBM and are optional and optionally available to be performed by qualified business partners.

To help address the new opportunity that PureSystems presents, IBM is also providing training, marketing, certifications and technical validation support to its Business Partners.  For instance, dozens of IBM Innovation Centers in cities such as Bangalore, Dublin, Johannesburg and Shanghai are helping Business Partners develop and test their applications using IBM PureSystems. Business Partners can also bring their clients to IBM Innovation Centers to see PureSystems technology at work. 

For more information on IBM PureSystems visit: www.ibm.com/press/pure

For more information on Tonkin Consulting, please visit: http://www.tonkin.com.au/

For more information on Vintek, please visit: http://www.vintek.net/

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All other company, product or service names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of others. Statements concerning IBM's future development plans and schedules are made for planning purposes only, and are subject to change or withdrawal without notice. Reseller prices may vary.

Media Contacts:

Gisele Boulay
Media Relations, IBM Australia
0401-713-940
gboulay@au1.ibm.com

Chris Rubsamen
IBM Worldwide Communications, STG   
914-766-4280
rubsamen@us.ibm.com

Svetlana Stavreva.
Media Relations, IBM Growth Markets
+43-664-6186851
stavreva@at.ibm.com

SOURCE IBM