Benck says IBM's decision to release the BladeCenter specification was in response to requests by vendors and customers. "They continue to ask for more flexibility and more alternatives in a bladed form factor," he says. "Opening up the specification will not only drive innovation, but will continue our momentum in the market."
Benck says he expects to see new varieties of Ethernet and Fibre Channel switches, as well as specialized blades for areas such as the telecommunications industry. "The intent and focus here in not to necessarily enable substitute solutions for products that IBM and Intel already have in the market, but to drive innovation and new solutions that complement the set offerings already on the market," he says.
Over the past two years, IBM and Intel have shared development resources to create specific products for the BladeCenter line, Benck says. In the past, IBM has developed the two-way blade and general blade chassis, while Intel has led development of the four-way blade and a specialized chassis for the telecommunications market.
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