IBM is looking to use its System i platform to get a foothold among the smallest of businesses, a market traditionally dominated by x86 servers running Microsoft Windows applications.

At an event April 10, IBM officials, along with a number of customers and partners, unveiled <A HREF="http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2112801,00.asp?kc=EWEWEMNL041107EP38C">two new entry-level System i servers</A>--both of which come with a per-user pricing model--and a new program designed to encourage application providers to create software for the System i platform in a number of particular verticals, including IP telephony, health care and retail.