Hands up, if a product has an IBM sticker on it, will you open your wallet quicker than if it weren't there?
For me personally this certificate is just as meaningless as an icecube-machine in Siperia.
I want to tell a short story of certificates.
Our company has this oh so much valued ISO 14001 environment certificate. I'll tell you how it went:
First the funny part, the company pays to have the certificate
Secondly, the company itself defines all rules and sets the standards. They can set the standard as low as they want and easily be doing "well balanced and standardised products" next 100 years.
Thirdly, in the first year there will be inspectors visiting over from the company who gives the certificate (in this case, Den Norske Veritas,
www.dnv.com ). This is always known long time before it happens so you can bet your ass everything possible is made to make everything look good during the visit. In other words: cheating and lying in every aspect.
When they are gone all is back to normal.
The whole certificate system is a laugh. I don't know if the IBM has the same though.
