NEW YORK, June 16, 1998 — Today at PC Expo, Microsoft Corp. announced the release to manufacturing of Microsoft® Windows NT® Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition, an extension to the Windows NT Server product line. The Terminal Server Edition delivers the Windows® operating system experience to users with computers that cannot run the latest version of Windows today and enables a new generation of Windows-based applications for terminal users. This availability means that a new segment of users, previously unable to access off-the shelf Windows-based applications, will be able to gain the ease of use that Windows-based PC users have enjoyed for years. The Terminal Server Edition provides a thin-client solution in which applications are executed on the server and remotely displayed on the client. In addition, Microsoft announced broad industry support for the product and commitments from early adopter customers to deploy Terminal Server at their organizations.
“Now that the Terminal Server Edition is here, organizations will be able to extend the benefits of Windows to their terminal users and their desktops running on other operating systems,”
said Paul Maritz, group vice president of the platforms and applications group at Microsoft.
“We are excited by the amount of industry commitment behind the Terminal Server Edition and believe it signifies the depth to which customers are seeking a solution to extend the flexibility and simplicity of the Windows environment.”
Customers Announce Plans to Deploy
Citing the ability to provide 32-bit Windows-based line-of-business applications to their terminal users, legacy Windows-based desktops and throughout their diverse desktop environments, a number of companies announced their commitment to deploying the Terminal Server Edition. These early adopters include American Floral Services, Caterpillar Inc., Circuit City Stores Inc., Data General Corp., Eagle Hardware & Garden Inc., ESPN Inc., Fastenal Co., Federal Express Corp., Future Shop Ltd., The Halstead Property Co., HOB Entertainment Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., Matrix Rehabilitation, Mirage Resorts Inc., NationsBank Corp., Olsten Health Services, Sony Electronics Inc. and Texaco Inc.
Industry Rallies Behind Product
Anticipating the needs of their customers to complement their networked PC environments with a thin client solution, a number of major industry vendors announced plans to provide products and services based on the Terminal Server Edition. Support comes from server manufacturers, terminal manufacturers and key application developers. Major hardware and software vendors that offer complementary products include Amdahl Corp., Attachmate Corp., Boundless Technologies Inc., Compaq Computer Corp., Cruise Technologies Inc., Data General Corp., Dell Computer Corp., Electronic Data Systems Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., IBM Corp., Intel Corp., Intergraph Computer Systems, NCR Corp., Neoware Systems Inc., Network Computing Devices Inc., Progressive Network Solutions Inc., Prologue Software North America, Sequent Computer Systems Inc., Tektronix Inc., Unisys Corp., WRQ Inc. and Wyse Technology Inc. In addition, The Taylor Group and VeriTest Inc. have announced new testing programs to ensure applications compatibility with the Terminal Server Edition.
About Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition
Announced in May 1997, the Terminal Server Edition is a joint development effort between Microsoft and Citrix Systems Inc. providing the ability to host multiple, simultaneous client sessions on the Windows NT Server 4.0 operating system and on future versions of Windows NT Server. It is capable of delivering the experience of the 32-bit Windows environment to a variety of Windows-based desktops directly, as well as desktops running on other operating systems, via the Citrix MetaFrame thin client/server system software for Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition also announced today. Additional information can be found at http://microsoft.com/ntserver/basics/terminalserver/default.asp .
Citrix MetaFrame
Also today, Citrix announced the availability of MetaFrame (formerly
“pICAsso”
), thin client/server system software for Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition, which provides connectivity for desktops running on other operating systems, such as UNIX and Macintosh, as well as additional server-side and client-side features including load balancing and session shadowing. For additional information, see (http://citrix.com/) .
“The joint development agreement between Microsoft and Citrix has resulted in a win-win-win scenario for all parties involved: Microsoft, Citrix and, most important, the customer,”
said Edward Iacobucci, Citrix chairman and chief technical officer.
“Customers now have a compelling solution for delivering the Windows experience to all the desktops within their organizations, enabling them to enjoy significant reductions in TCO while also benefiting from the power and flexibility of Windows.”
Packaging and Pricing
Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition will be priced the same as the standard edition of Windows NT Server 4.0. Clients using the Terminal Server Edition will also require a Windows NT Workstation 4.0 license and a Windows NT Server 4.0 File and Print Client Access License (CAL) for each desktop. Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition is priced at $1,129, which includes 10 Windows NT Server 4.0 File and Print CALs. Additional Windows NT Server 4.0 File and Print CALs can be purchased at $39.95 each. Windows NT Workstation 4.0 licenses are priced at $269. In addition, customers participating in the Microsoft Open License Program (MOLP) can purchase Terminal Server Edition licenses for a reduced, volume-discounted rate of $627 for the Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition license, $238 for the Windows NT Workstation 4.0 license, and $31 for each Windows NT Server 4.0 File and Print CAL.
Customers with Citrix’s WinFrame 1.6 or WinFrame 1.7 thin client/server software can take advantage of a special upgrade promotion. Customers who have acquired WinFrame 1.6 or WinFrame 1.7 prior to July 31, 1998, will be able to purchase an upgrade including a Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition license, 15 Windows NT Workstation 4.0 licenses and 15 Windows NT Server 4.0 File and Print CALs for $2,599. This promotion is for a limited time only and will run through Nov. 30, 1998. Additional information on pricing for the Terminal Server Edition and the WinFrame upgrade promotion are available at http://microsoft.com/ntserver/basics/terminalserver/default.asp . Manufacturing began today, with general availability anticipated within the next month.
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“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.
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