IBM announced it is providing IBM Business Partners worldwide with $4 billion in financing for credit-qualified clients over a period of 12 months. This financing, through IBM Global Financing, can make obtaining credit easier and more accessible to enable IBM's global partner ecosystem and their clients to acquire advanced technologies such as cloud, analytics and PureSystems.  As part of today's news, IBM is also launching a new mobile app as another step to simplify the way IBM's Business Partners can apply for and secure financing for their clients within minutes via any mobile device -- anytime, anywhere.

Today's news addresses the need for capital by providing the right foundation and resources to support businesses across the globe to transform an idea into a business reality. This commitment of $4 billion in financing for IBM's global ecosystem is designed to eliminate many of the cost barriers that businesses face today. IBM Global Financing will offer simple, flexible lease and loan packages, some starting at as low as 0 percent for 12 months with no money down, allowing these businesses to acquire the technology and services they need from IBM and those developed by IBM Business Partners, while managing their cash flow more effectively.
 
This initiative builds on the $1 billion in financing that IBM Global Financing made available through IBM Business Partners for small and midsize businesses in 2011, which resulted in 6,800 global companies using financing in just 12 months versus an expected 18 months.  Smaller businesses, in particular, exhibited a stronger than expected appetite for new technology, including analytics, cloud and advanced infrastructure.  Thousands of small and midsize businesses are already reaping the benefits of the $1 billion in financing made available last year to clients.

Read the full IBM press release.