Here is the news from SEG post # 314.
Wednesday November 20 1:50 PM EDT
Seagate Software and Pinnacle Micro to Provide Highest Capacity 5.25" Magneto-Optical Backup Solution
Pinnacle Micro Apex drives and jukeboxes to include Seagate Software backup applications for Windows NT, NetWare and Windows
LAKE MARY, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 20, 1996--Seagate Software, Storage Management Group (SMG), a leader in network and desktop backup applications, and Pinnacle Micro, the developer and manufacturer of the highest capacity 5.25" magneto-optical (MO) drive, announced today, an agreement to bundle award-winning Seagate Software backup and storage management applications with Pinnacle Micro's Vertex and new Apex removable disk MO drives and jukeboxes. The bundle will be shown at COMDEX in Pinnacles booth No. L472 and in Seagate Software's technology suite.
At 4.6 GB native capacity, the Apex is the highest capacity 5.25" MO storage device available today. The 2.6 GB Vertex drive matches the native capacity of today's standard 5.25" MO drive, and the solution price, including Seagate Software applications, is often less expensive than competitive MO drives. The inclusion of Seagate Software backup applications extends the functionality of MO beyond its traditional role as secondary storage, and competes directly in price and performance with mid-range tape storage like DAT and 8mm for backup of network servers and power workstations, while also providing near-line storage for storage management and HSM applications.
"With backup support for optical storage devices and a field-proven reputation for customer satisfaction, Seagate Software is the best backup partner for Pinnacle's Apex and Vertex solutions," said Ken Campbell, executive vice president, technology at Pinnacle Micro. "The new Apex drive is a multi-faceted storage device and superior backup solution that combines industry-leading capacity, on-line storage performance, and reliable 30 year media shelf-life, adding significant value to the end-user."
Under the terms of the agreement, Seagate Software will provide Pinnacle with editions of Seagate Backup Exec for Windows, Windows 95 and Windows NT Workstation, as well as Seagate Backup Director for NetWare and Windows NT. These applications will be bundled with all internal and external versions of the Pinnacle Apex and the 2.6 GB Vertex MO drives. In addition, Windows NT and NetWare editions of Seagate Storage Manager and Seagate Backup Director software will also be bundled with Pinnacle MO jukeboxes that integrate the Apex and Vertex drives. Seagate Storage Manager concurrently supports Pinnacle optical jukeboxes as both off-line backup storage and near-line HSM storage. Pinnacle MO jukeboxes provide backup capacity ranges from 40 GB to 4.8 TB when used with Seagate Software's backup or storage management applications.
"The Apex drive represents breakthrough price-performance in removable optical backup and storage," said Joseph W. Seebach, vice president of business development, Seagate Software, SMG. "Pinnacle Micro has combined two of the industry's most advanced magneto-optical drives with powerful optical backup and storage management software and extended the usefulness of optical storage for their customers."
The backup and storage software bundle is expected be available first quarter CY97. Vertex and Apex orders shipped by Pinnacle this quarter will include a redeemable coupon to be fulfilled by Seagate Software as soon as the product is available. MSRP of the Vertex and Apex drives sold this quarter is scheduled to include the cost of the software.
Pinnacle Micro, Inc. is a recognized leader in recordable CD technology and optical storage systems for general data storage and data intensive applications such as network storage, imaging, desktop publishing and prepress, as well as emerging applications such as digital audio/video editing and commercial multimedia. Founded in 1987, Pinnacle Micro, Inc. is headquartered in Irvine, CA with offices in North America, Europe and the Pacific Rim.
Seagate Software, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Seagate Technology, Inc., develops tools and applications in the areas of information management and infrastructure management, including network, systems and storage management. Its industry leading software solutions are developed as integral components of a total data management product strategy supporting all major operating environments. Seagate Software has established strategic relationships with Compaq, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Novell, and other industry pacesetters, and markets its products worldwide, through distributors, value-added resellers, system integrators, retailers, OEMs and direct to large corporate users. |