IBM launching American-only software support

Big red, white, and Blue

By Austin Modine • Get more from this author

Posted in Software & Security, 16th June 2009 23:25 GMT

Free whitepaper – What Exchange can't do - and Dell can

IBM is rolling out a new software support package manned entirely by United States citizens.

Big Blue says its Software Secure Support via USA Citizens option provides tech support as well as data analysis and call data contained in an isolated US network untouched by foreign intents.

The offer will be available October 1 to both commercial and federal customers, which previously had to verify the US citizenship of their support operators by grilling them on who won the 2008 World Series (correct answer: the Phillies) and what's the capital of British Columbia (correct answer: I have no idea).

American assistance is available 24x7, assuming it's between the hours of 8 AM EST and 8 PM EST, Monday through Friday (and excluding US IBM and public holidays, or if the IBM facility is down for any reason). Otherwise it's kicked to the customer's standard support entitlement.

IBM says its US-only facility meets all the proper US government security specifications. No word on how much keeping things American will cost, or whether the hold music is a Toby Keith album set on repeat. ®

Free whitepaper – Straight Talk with Dell: Sending out an SaaS