REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 12, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that IBM Corp. has joined Adobe Inc., Cisco Systems Inc., Commerce One Inc., Compaq Computer Corp., Dell Computer Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., i2 Technologies Inc., Intel Corp., SAP AG, Toshiba Corp. and Unisys Corp. as a Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Global Launch Partner. These industry leaders are showcasing significant investment in the Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system through solutions, services and support.
“Today’s announcement is one more validation of IBM’s commitment to the Windows 2000 platform and the enterprise expertise it offers customers,”
said Deborah Willingham, vice president of marketing for Windows at Microsoft.
“Through the development efforts at the IBM Center for Microsoft Technologies, its work with beta customers of Windows 2000, and its own early adoption of Windows 2000, IBM has developed hardware technologies, services and deployment experience that will be critical to the success of customer deployments. We applaud IBM’s efforts and are excited about its becoming a Windows 2000 Global Launch Partner.”
“We are delighted to have been named a Microsoft Windows 2000 Global Launch Partner,”
said Ralph Martino, vice president of marketing and strategy, IBM Personal Systems Group.
“IBM’s commitment extends beyond hardware and services as we’re likely the largest early deployment customer for Windows 2000, with over 300,000 eventual seats. The advanced technologies found in IBM’s broad range of personal computer products, combined with our proven consulting and enterprise integration expertise, complement Windows 2000 to bring the most manageable, scalable and affordable solutions to our customers. This announcement demonstrates the strong relationship between Microsoft and IBM behind the Windows 2000 platform.”
Today, IBM offers more than 400 systems compatible with Windows 2000 that incorporate
“smart”
technologies such as Active PCI and embedded security chipsets adopted from its vast computing heritage. Joint development at the IBM Center for Microsoft Technologies has resulted in many innovations between these technologies and the operating systems to deliver industry-leading advanced functionality and to help ensure customer confidence in enterprise-class performance.
Through programs from both IBM and Microsoft, existing customers of the Windows NT® 4.0 operating system can, for a limited time, upgrade their ThinkPad, PC 300, IntelliStation and Netfinity products to Windows 2000 at no additional charge. Upgrade packages from IBM include an IBM System Solution CD with BIOS updates, device drivers and installation hints and tips to ease migration.
IBM Global Services can help companies design, deploy and optimize their Windows 2000 environments. The IBM Global Service’s Enterprise Services for Microsoft Technologies Practice offerings include readiness evaluation, analysis and strategy, architecture and design, implementation planning, and development and implementation. IBM is already working with numerous companies on their deployment projects for Windows 2000 through its Enterprise Deployment Partner Program (EDPP).
About the Windows 2000 Global Launch Partners
The Windows 2000 Global Launch Partners will join Microsoft in more than 60 locations worldwide on Feb. 17, 2000, to showcase innovative solutions and demonstrate ways that the entire computer industry is preparing customers for the launch of Windows 2000. Microsoft and industry partners are developing solutions that will empower businesses of all sizes to quickly become Internet-enabled and to lower costs by taking advantage of the enhanced manageability and increased reliability of the Windows 2000 operating system.
About the Windows 2000 Family and Microsoft
The Windows 2000 family of operating systems is designed to enable the next generation of PC computing. It allows organizations to Internet-enable their entire business using integrated Web application services, Internet-class scalability and standards-based security services. Windows 2000 delivers new levels of reliability and manageability to help increase system uptime and lower the total cost of ownership. In addition, Windows 2000 helps enable a new generation of devices, from the notebook to the data center. The Windows 2000 family includes Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Advanced Server and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software – any time, any place and on any device.
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