G B Kumar

Intel’s Early Access Program (EAP) enables Indian software services players to work on the latest Intel platforms including Itanium, Xeon and Pentium 4. The company has set up a data centre in Mumbai to facilitate 24-hour access for its partners. “To begin with, we have partnered with Infosys, Persistent Systems, Pramati and Bindview in the country. Globally we have more than 500 ISVs under the EAP program and over 300 applications have already been ported and optimised,” said G B Kumar, general manager, Internet Solutions Group, Intel Asia.

Some of these partners have already started building applications based on Intel’s latest range of Itanium processors. Infosys has already started remote access to the data centre. “We started moving with Indian ISVs much before the formal launch. The response has been encouraging,” added Kumar.

EAP partners will get a 10 percent discount on Intel’s software tools apart from the discounts offered by OEMs like HP, IBM and Dell. “HP is giving around 45 percent discount on the Itanium systems and Dell 30 percent. The IBM alliance is at present only available to US vendors,” said Sunita Shenoy, software enabling manager, EAP, Intel Asia. EAP members have to pay $500 per year to Intel. “Indian ISVs are more technology oriented, while the US vendors are more client/market focused. We also help these members reach out to markets in the US and other geographies through joint marketing efforts,” she added. Intel will provide its EAP members a platform to showcase their applications at company sponsored events.

The program allows partners to get a 24-hour Web-based Intel Premier Support account, expert consulting at a discounted price and online training courses. The program was launched in the US and Europe during 2000 and currently there are three data centres across the globe to facilitate remote access.