Business Objects and IBM have expanded their strategic alliance to co-develop, sell and implement joint Information on Demand solutions, to customers in more than 15 countries across Asia Pacific.

Business Objects and IBM intend to provide localised support for new and existing mid-market and enterprise customers throughout the region.  The two companies will also increase their sales, marketing and technical support in an effort to expand their joint customer base.

"This alliance is a significant step forward in our relationship with IBM, allowing us to deliver innovative solutions throughout Asia Pacific," said Keith Budge, senior vice president and general manager, Asia Pacific Japan, Business Objects.  "This alliance will help us work closely with IBM to tap the tremendous opportunity available in Asia Pacific. Our customers will also see better integration of their solutions and, consequently, increased return on their investments."

The expanded relationship is also focused on  helping  customers embrace Information On Demand in an effort to unlock and  extract  value  from  information  to  globalise  and  integrate their business processes.

"Our  strategic alliance with Business Objects allows companies to leverage Information  on  Demand  across  their  entire enterprise, giving them that extra  competitive  edge  in  this  fast growing Asia Pacific market", said Terry  Hopkins,  vice  president,  Solutions,  IBM Asia Pacific.

The two companies are also increasing investment in the areas of joint solution development, tighter product integration and global industry support.