IBM has issued a press release and posted an explanatory video.

One thing is clear already: it’s an announcement of huge import. Thus IBM appears to be moving details forward progressively, in stages. That’s an effective approach to manage a “very happy problem”: there’s so much new capability packed into the IBM z13 that we need some time to absorb the full impact of the announcement.

That’s my fundamental, snap reaction in this instance. Each of the innovations IBM has highlighted so far, taken individually, is impressive. I expect that, and that would’ve been quite fine. But in combination, all at once, in one new model generation? That’s huge. The IBM z13 is well positioned to solve whole new classes of tough enterprise computing problems facing businesses and governments.

If you’d like more instant reaction, watch my Twitter feed (@sipples) during IBM’s Webcast for the IBM z13. IBM’s broadcast starts at 19:00 UTC on January 14, 2015.

In November I provided some insight into the story of Kenya Power and their choice of a new, combined enterprise data warehouse, business intelligence, and analytics solution running on an IBM zEnterprise zBC12 mainframe. IBM is now providing much more information on that important mainframe milestone in the form of a video feature.

Full Disclosure: My colleague Colin Page and I designed Kenya Power’s new solution (to meet and often exceed KP’s requirements), and we also managed the technical solution aspects of the bid and evaluation processes to make sure we got all the details correct for our partners and for KP. Colin especially has been making sure the design is faithfully translated into execution, and he’s the IBM hero most responsible for making that happen at KP.

Jane, Joe, Linus, Vlado, Wolfgang, Tom, Wael, Yasser, and many other IBMers worked countless hours making sure we all focused with laser precision on KP’s needs. It was (and is) an absolute pleasure to work with them. IBM’s management also gave us all great support, making the right investments in bringing the best of IBM to Kenya. We’re especially grateful to IBM’s research and development teams who spent a great deal of time listening to Kenya Power, addressing every question they had with complete, no b.s. candor. The IBM assembly plant team also did a great job addressing a crucial delivery requirement, and IBM’s service and support teams have stepped up to deliver.

Sats, Peter, and the many others at Symphony are terrific partners. They organized many moving parts, prepared an extremely detailed and professional government tender response, managed their significant parts of the bid and evaluation processes, addressed and resolved some financial issues, and remediated some critical data center gaps. We appreciate their years-long dedication.

Finally, most importantly, thanks to David, Pamela, and everybody at Kenya Power for challenging us and for charting a new path to serve their current and prospective electricity customers better. Our relationship is new, but we are grateful for your vote of confidence and look forward to a long, mutually beneficial future together. Thank you, KP.

Stay tuned for much more information and analysis this week.

January 14, 2015: Be there. Watch the video, then click (or tap) on the link to register.

Be there if you admire and appreciate real innovation. Be there to see the future of computing. Be there if you’re beyond fed up with ongoing failures to protect your private, personal information. Be there if you love changing the world for the better. Be there if you believe that continuous business service — with no excuses and no interruptions, “planned” or otherwise — is more essential than ever. Be there if you respect bold, uncompromising engineering ambition. Just be there.

I’ll have much more to say on the 14th (and thereafter), including some unique insights and predictions on what this all means.