IBM has launched new initiative and new software designed to remove the cost and complexity of delivering IT for small and mid-sized firms

The Blue Business Platform is aimed at firms which don't have the time or resources to adequately manage their computing environments, said IBM.

The first stage of the initiative is IBM Lotus Foundations Start, a quick to set-up family of servers including e-mail, security, backup and recovery features

IBM said it is also looking to recruit software and solution providers to integrate their software with a new Application Integration Toolkit and a Global Application Marketplace. The toolkit is a set of open standard interfaces designed to simplify the installation of new applications, systems management and online services.

The Global Application Marketlace will offer firms the ability to access business applications, services, peer ratings of these offerings, and online business solutions advisors from their IBM system.

Meanwhile IBM Lotus Foundations Start is a new software offering for firms with up to 500 employees, featuring the Lotus Notes and Domino mail and collaboration platform, file management, directory services, firewall, back-up and recovery, anti-virus, anti-spam and Lotus Symphony office productivity tools.

The Blue Business Platform platform will be which will be piloted and delivered in the coming months, according to IBM.