Big two turn up heat

By RICHARD WOOD

IBM and Microsoft are vying for the hearts and minds of New Zealand's 26,000-strong software developer community, and each claims record levels of interest.

IBM says over 7000 developers are registered on its developer website, up from 3000 in January.

Microsoft says the 700 people who attended its Tech-Ed 2002 event at the Auckland Town Hall this month set a record.

Researcher IDC says there are 26,614 developers in total in New Zealand. To qualify, developers must be in the business of programming or managing software projects.

Last week, IBM attracted 50 to 60 developers to each of its Launchpad events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

As well as Tech-Ed, Microsoft runs Software Developer Network and Developer Days events.

The IBM manager of developer relations for Australia/New Zealand, David Reeve, said IBM's site was focused around an open software approach incorporating Linux, Java, XML and web services skills and technologies.

In addition, through the PartnerWorld for Developers scheme, IBM worked with Independent Software Developers to get software ready for market and to help local firms reach global customers.

Microsoft's four-day Tech-Ed event pulled together 48 speakers, 20 of whom came from Microsoft international offices, and included a free student day, which over 100 attended. A focus of both events was the industry move towards web services standards and technologies.

IBM developerWorks