Lenovo announced its intent to <A HREF="http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/01/25/Lenovo-enters-the-server-business_1.html?source=rss&url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/01/25/Lenovo-enters-the-server-business_1.html">jump into the server business</A> by licensing x86 server technology from IBM, helping extend its product offerings to SMBs. Under the agreement, Lenovo will manufacture one- and two-way x86 servers based on IBM's System x technology, which Lenovo will distribute under its own brand name.

The servers will add to Lenovo's corporate product lineup that includes ThinkPad laptops and Think workstations. The company also distributes IdeaPad notebooks for the consumer market. This will be a new business for Lenovo as the company does not sell servers outside China, said Ray Gorman, executive director of external communications at Lenovo. Lenovo will start distributing the servers worldwide within the next year.