ATLANTA, June 5, 2001 — Microsoft Corp. and Nortel Networks* [NYSE/TSE: NT] have jointly developed an integrated data center solution designed to help service providers offer the highest levels of application, storage and network availability for a range of managed services.
The Continuously Available Managed Services solution is designed to connect geographically distributed data centers to reduce or eliminate single points of failure, providing continuous availability of hosted software services.
It combines Microsoft® Windows® 2000-based servers, Microsoft .NET Enterprise Servers and Microsoft solution-based Web services with Nortel Networks optical, content networking and intelligent IP (Internet Protocol) solutions to help maximize availability of mission-critical applications. Microsoft (booth #1442) and Nortel Networks (booth #8048) will show the Continuously Available Managed Services solution this week at SUPERCOMM 2001.
“Microsoft and Nortel Networks are combining our individual strengths into a complete, easy-to-deploy platform for our customers to launch new hosted services,”
said Pieter Knook, vice president of Microsoft’s network service providers group.
“Designed for an unparalleled level of availability for Windows 2000 and a range of Microsoft Web services, the Continuously Available Managed Services solution utilizes Nortel Networks’ leading optical and IP networking products to create greater opportunities for service providers, and reinforces the viability of software as a service,”
Knook said.
Microsoft’s .NET architecture provides the key components needed to create and leverage Web services, enabling companies to change the way they interact with their customers and partners over the Internet.
”
This is the result of strong teamwork between Nortel Networks and Microsoft, as the software provider for this solution, with a common goal of
creating value
for our customers,”
said Anil Khatod, chief marketing and strategy officer, Nortel Networks.
“With the Continuously Available Managed Services solution, service providers will have the ability to deliver hosted services to enterprise customers as if they were right down the hall – fast, simple, reliable, and using native Ethernet protocol.”
Eliminating Single Points of Failure for Network Data Centers
Corporations spend millions of dollars a year on redundant power, networking and physical infrastructure to minimize the impact of data center failures due to user error or natural disasters. The Continuously Available Managed Services solution is designed to enable service providers to automatically address those issues by means of linking data centers together. By doing this, complete mission-critical application backup and data replication can occur, enhancing disaster recovery and resilience. The solution is can also allow more flexible data center maintenance – scheduled or unscheduled – by enabling rollover of data center processes from one center to another on a moment’s notice.
Increased Opportunity for Service Providers
The Continuously Available Managed Services solution is pre-integrated and pre-tested to accelerate deployment, enabling service providers to increase revenue opportunities by delivering network services faster and at reduced cost. Furthermore, for those wishing to offer software as a service, the Continuously Available Managed Services solution is designed to help service providers to extend the range of services they offer existing clients, or to offer mission-critical applications to a range of new customers. The integrated solution is also designed to help provide a smooth migration path from the enterprise to the service provider on a tested infrastructure, allowing enterprises to outsource their mission-critical applications.
“With this new solution, Nortel Networks and Microsoft will be in a position to fully address the conundrum of applications driving bandwidth and bandwidth driving applications,”
said Grier Hansen, Carrier and Optical Infrastructure Analyst, Current Analysis.
“Furthermore, service providers and enterprises stand to benefit from the high reliability and trustworthiness that this integrated solution can bring to the table.”
The Continuously Available Managed Services solution supports Microsoft Exchange Server 2000, Commerce Server 2000, BizTalk™ Server and SQL Server™
2000 as managed services, and uses Nortel Networks OPTera*, Alteon* and Passport* products. It also utilizes the EMC information storage systems and software and the industry leading Compaq* ProLiant* server product line. General availability is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year.
Using dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM), next generation SONET and Optical Ethernet technologies, Nortel Networks OPTera family of Metro Optical solutions can accelerate transformation of metropolitan networks to broadband infrastructure, redefining the performance and economics for enterprise networking while enabling new and potentially profitable services for carriers.
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.
Nortel Networks is a global Internet and communications leader with capabilities spanning Optical, Wireless, Local, Personal Internet and eBusiness. The Company had 2000 U.S. GAAP revenues of US$30.3 billion and serves carrier, service provider and enterprise customers globally. Today, Nortel Networks is creating a high-performance Internet that is more reliable and faster than ever before. It is redefining the economics and quality of networking and the Internet, promising a new era of collaboration, communications and commerce. Visit us at http://www.nortelnetworks.com .
Certain information included in this press release is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties. The results or events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Factors which could cause results or events to differ from current expectations include, among other things: the impact of price and product competition; the dependence on new product development; the impact of rapid technological and market change; the ability of Nortel Networks to make acquisitions and/or integrate the operations and technologies of acquired businesses in an effective manner; general industry and market conditions and growth rates; international growth and global economic conditions, particularly in emerging markets and including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of rationalization in the telecommunications industry, the uncertainties of the Internet; stock market volatility; the ability of Nortel Networks to recruit and retain qualified employees; the ability to obtain timely, adequate and reasonably priced component parts from suppliers and internal manufacturing capacity; the impact of the credit risks of our customers; the entrance by Nortel Networks into an increased number of supply, turnkey, and outsourcing contracts which contain delivery, installation, and performance provisions, which, if not met, could result in Nortel Networks having to pay substantial penalties or liquidated damages; and the impact of increased provision of customer financing and commitments by Nortel Networks. For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, see the reports filed by Nortel Networks with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Nortel Networks disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
*Nortel Networks, the Nortel Networks logo, the Globemark, OPTera, Alteon and Passport are trademarks of Nortel Networks. Compaq and ProLiant and trademarks of Compaq. EMC is a trademark of EMC Corporation. Microsoft, Windows and BizTalk are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages.
