REDMOND, Wash., and BLUE BELL, Pa., Oct. 30, 1997 — Microsoft Corp. and Unisys Corp. today announced a joint initiative to bring customers business-critical information solutions based on the Microsoft® Windows NT® Server operating system and Microsoft’s enterprise platform technologies. Unisys will train and certify up to 2,000 professionals on Microsoft enterprise products and establish five application development centers dedicated to Microsoft solutions. Unisys and Microsoft will team up to optimize software performance on Unisys high-performance servers and deliver enterprise solutions for the government and financial services markets. In addition, Unisys will standardize internally on Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft Internet products.
The companies will combine the Microsoft enterprise platform with Unisys information services, technologies and global support to address the escalating demand for enterprise-class solutions: highly scalable, available, reliable and manageable information solutions running core business processes. Based on Windows NT Server, the Microsoft enterprise platform comprises the BackOffice® family of server applications and a wide range of Microsoft Internet, development and desktop technologies.
The companies will also team to provide federal, state and local government agencies with enterprise solutions in areas such as tax and revenue, justice and public safety, and child welfare. For financial services organizations, Unisys and Microsoft will provide enterprise-class solutions including retail delivery – customer service solutions through multiple delivery channels, such as branches, call centers and the Internet – and payment systems, including check and remittance processing. In the future, the companies plan to extend their focus in other vertical markets– such as publishing, where they will team to provide high-performance solutions for newspaper production and multimedia archiving.
“Microsoft’s alignment with Unisys in the enterprise makes tremendous sense,”
said Steve Ballmer, executive vice president of sales and support at Microsoft.
“Unisys brings extensive and deep experience in systems and services for business-critical computing, as well as expertise in key enterprise markets such as government and financial services. Microsoft’s enterprise platform continues to evolve to meet customers’ most demanding business computing needs. Together we can offer customers the best in scalable, high-performance and reliable computing.”
Elements of the Agreement
Unisys and Microsoft will undertake a range of activities to optimize technology and expand services and solutions for the enterprise environment:
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As a key part of the enterprise partnership, Unisys will train and certify as many as 2,000 professionals in three years as Microsoft Certified Solution Developers (MCSDs) and Microsoft Certified System Engineers (MCSEs) to deploy and support solutions based on the Microsoft enterprise platform.
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Unisys will establish five Microsoft Enterprise Application Development Centers of Excellence (ADCOE) worldwide to develop and test business-critical solutions and services. Replicating the existing center at Unisys headquarters, the centers will be used by Unisys and Microsoft personnel to showcase solutions based on Microsoft’s enterprise platform. A Microsoft Consulting Services partner program manager will join the staff at each ADCOE.
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Unisys and Microsoft will team to develop solutions and promote products and services based on Microsoft’s enterprise platform and jointly deliver enterprise-class Windows NT Server based solutions. These initiatives are expected to expand the Unisys client base and provide new products and services to existing Unisys customers.
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Unisys will operate a Technology Center in Redmond, Wash., and a Performance Laboratory in Mission Viejo, Calif., to support clients and partners and optimize enterprise-class server technologies using Microsoft’s enterprise platform. A dedicated Microsoft technical account manager (TAM) will join the staff at the Technology Center.
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Unisys and Microsoft will expand their ongoing initiatives to optimize performance and scalability of Windows NT Server and Microsoft SQL Server
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for Unisys ClearPath HMP and Aquanta enterprise servers. -
Unisys Network Enable and Microsoft will team to develop, implement and market life-cycle network services based on customer requirements, including procurement, maintenance, consulting and network management using Microsoft’s enterprise platform technologies. Network Enable will establish a core competency in Microsoft products to provide leading-edge support services.
“This alliance facilitates one of the key Unisys objectives as a global provider of information solutions: delivering a comprehensive suite of services and technologies to help clients use Microsoft’s enterprise platform to address their most critical business requirements,”
said Lawrence A. Weinbach, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Unisys.
“By combining Unisys services industry leadership, our heritage in large-scale systems, and our global support infrastructure with Microsoft’s proven and continually evolving Windows NT Server technology, both companies will build a solid foundation of solutions for clients who want to deploy business-critical applications for the enterprise environment.”
Building on Services, Solutions and Systems Leadership for Windows NT Server
Through the agreement, the companies will team to extend and enhance the Unisys existing suite of enterprise servers, vertical applications and comprehensive information services for deploying and managing Microsoft enterprise platform solutions in business-critical environments.
Using the TPC-C benchmark defined by the Transaction Processing Council (TPC), Unisys has demonstrated the performance and price/performance leadership of its Intel-based symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) Aquanta servers running Microsoft SQL Server database software. Unisys Aquanta servers hold four of the top five TPC-C rankings in price/performance in the industry and the record-breaking performance of the 6-way Aquanta HS/6 server on the Windows NT Server platform, all with Microsoft SQL Server.
Building on this performance advantage, Unisys will continue to develop value-added software for the Microsoft enterprise platform, focusing on best-in-class scalability, high availability, enterprise management, legacy integration and electronic commerce capabilities.
Unisys also will expand its global support services to help customers worldwide integrate, manage and maintain multivendor networks where Microsoft enterprise solutions are deployed.
Unisys to Standardize on Microsoft Enterprise Platform
Furthering its commitment to Microsoft’s enterprise platform, Unisys will standardize internally on Windows NT Server and other key Microsoft technologies. Unisys will deploy Microsoft Exchange Server for global messaging and collaboration at the company. Unisys also will use Microsoft Internet Information Server and Microsoft Site Server and standardize on the Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 browser for employees around the world.
Microsoft Enterprise Platform
The Microsoft enterprise platform is a comprehensive, integrated set of technologies that enables organizations to develop secure, reliable, manageable and scalable solutions for running the business. Based on Windows NT Server, Microsoft’s enterprise platform comprises development tools, Office desktop applications, the BackOffice family of server applications, including Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft Site Server.
Unisys – The Information Management Company
Unisys is one of a select group of companies with the portfolio of services, technologies and third-party alliances needed to deliver the benefits of information management – helping clients use their information asset to enhance their competitiveness and responsiveness to customers. Unisys expertise in information management is founded on the strengths of its three global businesses: consulting, solutions and systems integration; industry-leading technologies; and comprehensive services and products supporting distributed computing environments. Access the Unisys home page on the World Wide Web – (http://www.unisys.com/) – for further information.
About Microsoft
Microsoft and its worldwide enterprise partners deliver a total solution: integrated platforms, powerful business applications and comprehensive global services that drive the success of its enterprise customers. Large organizations can work directly with Microsoft or choose among the many highly qualified Microsoft enterprise partners to implement solutions
based on the Microsoft enterprise platform. Based on Microsoft best practices and supported by over 118,000 Microsoft Certified Professionals, more than 10,000 customers in 55 countries are realizing significant business value and competitive advantage from Microsoft’s worldwide enterprise solutions.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft, Windows NT and BackOffice are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and other countries.
Unisys, ClearPath and Aquanta are registered trademarks of Unisys Corp.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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