IBM, Microsoft and Champion Computer Corporation Team Up To Offer Integrated Solutions With BackOffice Server 4.5 on Select Netfinity Servers for Branch Offices and Medium-Sized Businesses

NEW YORK, June 28, 2000 — IBM, Microsoft Corp. and Champion Computer Corporation announced the Business Champions’ Advantage, featuring Microsoft® BackOffice® Server running on solution-optimized IBM® Netfinity® servers, at the PC EXPO 2000 trade show today.

The first of the Business Champions’ Advantage program’s two solutions features the Netfinity 5100 Server. It is designed to appeal to branch offices of larger companies seeking a turnkey solution to allow standardization on a common hardware and software configuration across the organization, and it is priced at $12,829.

The second solution, the Netfinity 7100 Server, is targeted at medium-sized organizations looking to easily deploy and manage comprehensive IT solutions. It is priced at $19,579.

The special prices include setup and configuration services provided by Champion Computer Corporation. Solutions will be available through Nov. 1. Customers can visit the Champion Web site at http://www.championcc.com/pcexpo/ for more complete solution information.

The Business Champions’ Advantage program demonstrates the continuing collaboration between IBM and Microsoft to bring customers the power of Netfinity server solutions powered by Microsoft server applications. In addition to an optimally configured IBM Netfinity server, each solution includes a BackOffice Server 4.5 suite license; three or five client access licenses (CALs), depending on configuration; and BackOffice Server Upgrade Advantage that entitles the customer to two years of server software upgrades, with an immediate upgrade to Microsoft Windows® 2000 Server, and BackOffice Server 2000 when available (media and shipping/handling charges may apply).

Program services include on-site integration of all hardware components (system memory, hard drives, RAID adapters, network interface cards and redundant power supplies), updating BIOS levels to the latest firmware level, configuring RAID arrays, installing Microsoft Windows NT® Server 4.0 (or Windows 2000 Server) and BackOffice Server 4.5, configuring network connectivity, setting up three or five user accounts, providing up to three hours of on-site training and four help-desk support incidents.

BackOffice Server 4.5 is the integrated server suite optimized for Windows NT Server that simplifies the development, management and deployment of powerful solutions for departments, branch offices and medium-sized businesses. It offers integrated tools and comprehensive services that reduce the cost and complexity of maintaining business and IT solutions. BackOffice Server 4.5 joins IBM’s award-winning hardware and industry-leading service offerings in these special offers to provide customers with a single, cost-effective and easy-to-acquire solution through Champion Computer Corporation, a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider and IBM Premier Business Partner. Customers can have confidence that Windows 2000 Server and BackOffice Server 4.5 will run across a range of Netfinity servers.

“We are excited to make Business Champions’ Advantage available to all of our new Netfinity purchasers,”
said Sandy Carter, director of Partnerworld, Netfinity brand at IBM.
“BackOffice Server provides an excellent offering to our customers and grows our solutions portfolio with an excellent complement to our industry-leading Microsoft service offerings.”

“These combinations of Microsoft server software, IBM hardware and Champion Computer Corporation’s services will provide our customers the kind of drop-in-place solutions that they need for running their businesses,”
said Russell Stockdale, vice president of the Business Productivity Group at Microsoft.
“IBM brings a tremendous history and customer loyalty to the offer, and Champion’s expertise will mean smooth deployment and support for the end customer.”

“This is just the next logical step in our ongoing relationship with IBM and Microsoft,”
said Mark Wyllie, vice president of Champion Computer Corporation.
“Because Champion focuses on solutions for midmarket customers, we look to partner with companies that will allow us to offer the best turnkey solutions at the best prices.”

Netfinity servers lead the industry in innovation, delivering enterprise and super server capabilities to the industry-standard server arena. These capabilities include enhanced memory protection developed for the Mars Rover, system management processors derived from IBM System/390® , and software diagnostics and rejuvenation to help notify and protect customers from unwanted server downtime.

About Champion Computer Corporation

Champion Computer Corporation, The Technology Infrastructure Company, is a Boca Raton, Florida-based, privately held company that specializes in providing the IT infrastructure for Web-based companies, as well as the Fortune 2000. Champion, which is also IBM’s largest open systems storage solution business partner, markets its trademarked solution, known as

“Time to Content,”
to Internet service providers (ISPs), application service providers (ASPs) and the Fortune 2000, to help them meet their rapidly growing storage and content needs by providing proven expertise in the design and implementation of highly available, reliable, scalable storage area networks. For more information on Champion, go to http://www.championcc.com/ .

About Microsoft

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.

IBM makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding non-IBM products and services. IBM, System/390, NUMA-Q and Netfinity are trademarks of IBM.

Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corp.

Microsoft, BackOffice, Windows and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages.

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