The IBM eX5 systems have been used by Acxiom, a provider of interactive marketing services that serves a range of clients including the top 10 retail banks and nine of the top 10 auto makers.

Acxiom has used the IBM solution to double its virtualisation capacity, and dropped its software licensing costs. The company's CIO David Guzman noted that IBM has allowed it to double its virtualisation capacity, and reduced its software licensing costs.

"The price/performance equation is extraordinarily compelling, with five times the performance at a fraction of the cost. Moreover, there is a positive impact on all of the other key components of IT cost--space, power, labour, maintenance. The concrete results of this next generation machine are exciting, and the roadmap has 'knock-your-socks-off' vision."