IBM Creates On-Demand Prices For Desktops

IBM's flexible pricing strategy is being applied to office PCs and printers. The company's Global Services unit, which already sells heavy-duty computing power to big businesses on a pay-as-you-go basis, Tuesday launched Workplace On Demand, a program under which business customers can acquire and maintain equipment from desktops to PDAs for one monthly bill that varies based on the number of users.

The fee covers deployment and ongoing maintenance using IBM products and services such as ImageUltra and Rapid Restore PC management software and the Web-based Virtual Help Desk. On-site support is also available.

IBM will manage all of a customer's output devices, including printers, fax machines, and copiers, on a variable price-per-page basis.

The company says Workplace On Demand can cut as much as 30% from the cost of running and maintaining office systems. According to research firm Meta Group, it can cost companies between $2,000 and $5,000 per year to manage a single PC.