Monday January 24, 8:01 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Dell Launches Multiple Service Offerings to Facilitate Transition to Windows 2000
Dell Client Systems With Windows 2000 Now Available for Customer Order
ROUND ROCK, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2000--Dell Computer Corporation (Nasdaq:DELL - news), the world's leading direct computer systems company, today announced the availability of new services as part of its Windows 2000 Premier Migration Program, which is designed to support Dell customers as they migrate to the Microsoft Windows 2000 platform.
Dell also announced that it is now taking orders in the United States for select desktops, notebooks and workstations that incorporate Windows 2000 Professional, and will begin taking orders for PowerEdge© servers with Windows 2000 Server and Advanced Server in early February.
Dell's migration services for Windows 2000, created to help ensure a smooth transition process and minimize the total cost of deployment for customers, range from technology consulting, planning and implementation for complex computing environments to Internet-based information and assessment tools to Dell's award-winning 24x7 toll-free telephone technical support.
Dell first introduced its Windows 2000 Premier Migration Program in November 1998 to assist customers who begin the evaluation and transition process to Windows 2000.
``Dell's direct relationship with customers and award-winning services provide unparalleled insight into the individualized needs of our customers,' said Gary Cotshott, vice president, services, Public and Americas International (PAI), Dell Computer Corporation.
``This knowledge, coupled with Dell's ongoing relationship with Microsoft, enables us to offer our customers migration service solutions designed to cost effectively and seamlessly optimize their transition to Windows 2000 for even the most complex environments.'
Now Taking Orders
Customers who plan an early migration to Windows 2000 Professional can order certain models of Dell desktop PCs, notebooks and workstations with the new operating system. They include the OptiPlex© GX100 and GX110 desktops, Dimension© L Series and XPS T Series desktops, Latitude© CPx, CSx, CS, CPt and select CPi notebooks, Inspiron(tm) 7500 notebooks and the Dell Precision(tm) Workstation 420. Other models are expected to be available in the near future.
Additionally, Dell will begin taking orders for all currently shipping PowerEdge servers with Windows 2000 Server and Advanced Server in early February. Microsoft will officially launch Windows 2000 on Feb. 17. Dell will offer Windows 2000 Datacenter on its PowerEdge servers when it is made available from Microsoft later this year.
Migration Services Available
To use Dell's migration services for Windows 2000, customers can go to www.dell.com/windows2000 or www.support.dell.com, or call their Dell account representative. Initially, these services are available to U.S. and Canadian customers. As the migration to Windows 2000 accelerates, Dell Windows 2000-based service offerings will be expanded to meet customers' evolving needs. Dell's current and future Windows 2000-based services will become available internationally as Windows 2000 is deployed worldwide.
Current offerings of the Dell Windows 2000 Premier Migration Program include:
-- Dell Technology Consulting (DTC) Services: Dell products can be
implemented and optimized with an array of services including
migration consulting, planning, training, implementation and
system management for Windows 2000. For proof-of-concept
services and performance tuning, customers can utilize Dell's
Application Solution Centers (ASC) in Austin, Texas; Morristown,
New Jersey; Limerick, Ireland, and Xiamen, China.
-- Windows 2000-Based Information and Training Resources: As a
Windows 2000 development associate with Microsoft Corporation,
Dell has vast expertise in optimizing the Windows 2000 platform
for any customer environment. Customers are gaining increasing
insight through Dell's Web-based FAQs, the DellTalk forum and
online interactive training from EducateU(sm)
(www.support.dell.com).
-- Windows 2000-Based Readiness Advisor: Any Dell customer can
utilize the Web-based "Readiness Advisor" which uses their Dell
system's service tag number to provide upgrade advice for their
specific PC or server to Windows 2000.
-- Custom Factory Integration: Windows 2000-based software images
can be loaded directly onto Dell PCs and servers before they
leave our factory.
-- Installation: Qualified technicians are available to install Dell
Windows 2000-based systems in the customers' location.
-- Technical Support for Windows 2000: Dell's award-winning 24x7
toll-free telephone technical support representatives are fully
trained on Windows 2000 and available to help customers with
start-up and support issues.
Benefits of Dell's Relationship with Microsoft
``Dell's partnership with Microsoft continues to be invaluable as we work together to bring Windows 2000 to market,' said Deborah Willingham, vice president Windows Marketing, Microsoft Corporation. ``Dell's Windows 2000 services will help customers quickly evaluate and implement Windows 2000 so that they can begin to enjoy the benefits of the new platform.'
Dell also has aggressively launched a number of initiatives as part of its Windows 2000 Premier Migration Program to ease customers' transition to the new operating system. Last April, Dell began factory installing Windows 2000 Beta 3 on its servers, workstations and corporate desktop and notebook PC lines. Dell launched in August 1999 a free upgrade program for customers who purchase Windows NT Workstation 4.0 installed on Dell desktop, notebook and workstation products. |
