REDMOND, Wash., and ROUND ROCK, Texas, April 18, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. and Dell Computer Corp. today announced a joint initiative designed to further provide Internet service providers (ISPs), application service providers (ASPs) and Web-hosting companies with the training and resources they need to quickly and easily meet increased customer demand for new next-generation hosting services based on the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 platform and Dell TM PowerEdge server, PowerApp appliance server and PowerVault storage products.
As one of the first efforts in this initiative, Microsoft and Dell this week kicked off a 16-city road tour called the Internet Data Center Tour. The tour’s goal is to provide smaller ISPs, ASPs and Web-hosting companies across the United States with a road map for delivering reliable, scalable and manageable Web services.
“Windows 2000 offers a highly reliable and scalable platform for shared and dedicated hosting, and throughout the past year we’ve been working very closely with the ISP community to familiarize it with the latest developments for this platform,”
said Mark Chestnut, director of ISP and ASP business development for Microsoft’s Network Solutions Group.
“Working with Dell on this exciting initiative is another example of Microsoft’s efforts to provide the service provider community with the knowledge and resources it needs to deliver great new solutions and services to its customers.”
“The Internet Data Center Tour offers service providers the opportunity to view the data center capabilities of Dell PowerEdge servers and Microsoft Windows 2000,”
said Judi L. Webster, vice president and general manager of Dell’s Internet Partner Division.
“Working with Microsoft is a key method for Dell to educate service providers about the ways in which Dell servers and Windows 2000 can provide the speed, availability, scaling and flexibility to meet their customers’ needs.”
As part of the Internet Data Center Tour, Dell and Microsoft have transformed a semitrailer truck into a mobile Internet data center that will visit more than 16 U.S. cities throughout the next three months, providing thousands of companies with
“hands-on”
experience and guidance for developing new Web services.
Local CEOs, CIOs and senior engineers are invited to attend customized demonstrations on topics such as performance benchmarking, Web server load balancing, Exchange hosting and building an ideal data center solution utilizing Windows 2000 and Dell servers. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with Microsoft and Dell representatives to learn about business opportunities for utilizing the Microsoft and Dell platform as well as various vendor programs such as Dell’s recently announced Service Provider Direct, which is aimed at meeting the unique needs of the service provider community. Sample stops for the Internet Data Center Tour include Boston, New York and San Francisco. Additional information about the tour, including dates, locations, registration information and photos of the truck, can be found at http://www.dell.com/datacentertour/ or at http://www.microsoft.com/ISN/events/dell_on_wheelsP55255.asp?A=0 .
New Training and Resources
To help the service provider community support and deploy the Windows 2000 platform as part of shared and dedicated hosting solutions, Dell and Microsoft have outlined the following additional training and resources as part of this initiative:
-
Testing and benchmarking. In-house and third-party performance testing of the Dell-based Windows 2000 platform in a Web- and application-hosting environment
-
Training. Workshops designed to help data center engineers develop hands-on experience with the new management tools built into Windows 2000 and familiarity with the Dell platform
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Application and architecture validation. Lab resources to give companies the opportunity to test software and architecture designs before deploying them in a mission- critical environment
Building on its existing ISP-readiness efforts, Microsoft has also launched a Windows 2000 Early Adopter Program (EAP) and is conducting specialized local technical briefings for local service providers. The briefings are intended to educate ISPs on the technical benefits of the Windows 2000 platform and provide them with an opportunity to establish a
“technical”
level of comfort and working knowledge of the product so they are prepared to quickly and easily deploy solutions. The Windows 2000 EAP is aimed at providing a clear path for quick deployment of Windows 2000 and ongoing engagement opportunities with Microsoft. Service providers interested in participating can find more information about the program at http://www.microsoft.com/isn/isp/w2keap/ .
About Dell Computer Corp.
Dell Computer (Nasdaq
“DELL”
) is the world’s leading direct computer systems company, based on revenues of $25.3 billion for the past four quarters, and is a premier provider of products and services required for customers to build their Internet infrastructures. The company ranks No. 56 on the Fortune 500, No. 210 on the Fortune Global 500 and No. 3 on the Fortune
“most admired”
lists of companies. Dell designs, manufactures and customizes products and services to customer requirements and offers an extensive selection of software and peripherals. Information on Dell and its products can be obtained on the World Wide Web at http://www.dell.com/ .
About Microsoft Corp.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies 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.
Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Dell, PowerEdge, PowerApp and PowerVault are trademarks of Dell Computer Corp.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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