Microsoft Teams With PC Manufacturers To Deliver Solutions Optimized for Small Businesses
REDMOND, Wash., April 2, 1997 — Microsoft Corp. has teamed with leading PC manufacturers to provide solutions optimized for small businesses. Available immediately, the systems feature both applications and configurations that are specifically designed to meet the unique needs of owners and managers of small businesses.
The collaboration was formed to make it easier for small businesses to find the right solution. This collaboration marks the first time that Microsoft has teamed with PC manufacturers to create solutions that are specifically designed to meet the unique hardware, software and pricing needs of small businesses.
The PC manufacturers working with Microsoft for this effort include Arsys Innotech Corp., CTX International Inc., Data Storage Marketing Inc., Dell Computer Corp., Duracom Computer Systems, Gateway 2000 Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., Micron Electronics Inc., MidWest Micro, Packard Bell NEC and Texas Instruments Inc.
“We are delighted to work with Microsoft to deliver high-quality small-business solutions,” said Eric Cador, general manager of Hewlett-Packard’s small-business computer organization. “Our customers will find that HP’s small-business products meet their most stringent function and pricing requirements.”
Microsoft is working with a wide range of manufacturers to meet the varying needs of the diverse small-business market. The resulting solutions are priced to fit small-business budgets and include desktop, server and mobile solutions.
“Our joint work with Microsoft proves that it cares about helping both large and smaller PC manufacturers succeed,” said Jon Shiao, general manager of the computer division at CTX International Inc. “Small businesses constitute a significant cross section of our customer base, and our specially designed Microsoft-based systems hit their needs dead-on.”
In-Depth Small-Business Solutions
In addition to customized hardware configurations, these solutions include either the Microsoft® Windows® 95 or Windows NT® operating system, as well as preinstalled Microsoft business applications that vary by distribution channel and by small-business market segment. For example, the NEC Ready Office PC comes with Microsoft Office 97, Small Business Edition, which makes it a solid solution for the home office and small-office segment. In addition, the HP Vectra 500 series, which includes Microsoft Word and Publisher, is configured to provide VARs with a desktop solution that is easily customizable for small businesses with more complex needs.
“Small-business customers are the real winners from this unprecedented effort,” said Tricia Mayer, small business development manager at Microsoft. “These new Windows-based PC offerings meet many of their business needs more easily, right out of the box.”
This collaboration is part of Microsoft’s broader efforts to better support the needs of small businesses. In addition to these solutions being featured in a national advertising campaign, they will be highlighted in a new section of Microsoft’s award-winning Web site focusing on small businesses called Smallbiz, located at http://www.microsoft.com/smallbiz/ . The new section, titled Windows PC Resource, addresses the issues that small businesses face when purchasing and keeping up with the latest in Windows-based PC systems.
For more information on Microsoft’s efforts to help small businesses succeed, visit the Smallbiz section of Microsoft’s Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/smallbiz/ . For information on the specific Windows-based PC offerings mentioned above, visit the Windows PC Resource section of Smallbiz at http://www.microsoft.com/smallbiz/WindowsPCs/ , or see the following Web sites:
(http://www.ctxintl.com/smallbiz/)
(http://www.datastor.com/smallbiz/)
(http://www.dell.com/client/dd/msjump.htm)
(http://www.gw2k.com/products/ms-smallbiz.htm)
(http://www.mwmicro.com/sales/smallbizz.htm)
(http://www.nec.com/desktop/office.htm)
(http://www.ti.com/notebook/docs/smallbiz.htm)
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