If you get a chance today, check out an interesting article at CRN on IBM’s new financing program for enterprises needing just one more reason to move to Power Servers from competing systems.

Not only is IBM making it a financial no-brainer, offering a no-payments until next year and financing that covers everything from software to services, it’s even willing to buy up those systems that aren’t doing the job that’s needed for today’s businesses.

The financing program arrives with the official shipment of the mid-range Power 770, and higher end 780 and 795.

IBM’s biggest partner, Sirius Computer Solutions, said the program and new technologies is a “winning combination.” Here’s an excerpt from the article:

"IBM's strategy of structuring a financing/trade-in program around Oracle Sun is dead-on; IBM already has a 30 to 60 percent performance benefit (with the new Power systems) and they have a more open-strategy (than Oracle Sun) that clients want. The question is how do you lower the initial cost of acquisition and spread it out? That's what IBM has done here. They are allowing customers to trade in old iron and structure the payment stream so it doesn't impact the current (tight IT budget) period "

According to the article, customers are making the migration move, says Sirius, which has helped 10 of its clients make the transition.

Mertens cites the new IBM systems' performance capabilities as a primary reason and says the new financing option eliminates the last hurdle facing companies looking to leave vendors such as HP as IT budgets as still tight.

IBM says it's one of the first efforts at targeting financing at a specific segment and combining leasing and buy-back options. Such programs help cash-strapped enterprises keep IT technology advancing which is a critical aspect for business today.