MAJOR NEWS!
Microsoft, Compaq and Intel announce $7 million Canadian program designed to
speed time-to-market for dot-coms New speedStart program provides products,
services and resources for deploying scalable, reliable business solutions
TORONTO, Oct 18, 2000 (CNW via COMTEX) -- Microsoft Canada Co., Compaq Canada
Inc. and Intel Canada Ltd. today announced the launch of speedStart, a $7
million Canadian program specifically designed to accelerate speed-to-market for
Internet startup or dot-com companies. The program will help Canadian dot-coms
rapidly deploy proven, scalable, and reliable e-business solutions using Compaq,
Microsoft(R) and Intel technologies.
speedStart offers dot-coms the products, services, and resources they need to
help their growing businesses reach their goals. Comprehensive services from
Microsoft, Compaq and Intel help startups design, build and manage IT
infrastructures and cover a range of areas, from business vision planning, to
implementation, to ongoing support.
"Emerging Canadian IT companies need the support of business and technology
leaders in order to have a better chance at being viable," said Mary Macdonald,
President, Macdonald & Associates Ltd., a Toronto-based information firm
specializing in the venture capital and private equity markets. "It is
encouraging to see initiatives like speedStart, where startups can take
advantage of technology, funding, and expertise to develop solid e- commerce
applications right out of the gate."
The program also includes access to the Microsoft Technology Center, a
development laboratory that boasts a hardware- and software-rich setting
configured to match each customer's deployment environment, located in Toronto's
downtown core. Incorporating tools and services from Compaq, Intel and other
industry leaders, customers can engage in a variety of service offerings
including scalability and testing, transaction cost analysis, security
assessments and hardware and software compatibility. With access to the
Microsoft consulting team of e-commerce specialists, the new facility brings
together the right mix of skills and resources to help customers develop, test
and fine-tune online capabilities in order to move them quickly to market.
"speedStart offers Canadian dot-coms a wealth of knowledge and experience in the
technologies that power success on the Internet," said Frank Clegg, President,
Microsoft Canada Co. "By taking advantage of the speedStart program, and the
Microsoft Technology Center facilities, startups have a golden opportunity to
test their business applications. What sets this program apart is that we also
have the support of the Canadian venture capital community - including
organizations such as the NRG Group and OnX.com - as well as our extended
partners, such as Microforum, Tractionworks and VentureCluster. This broad
support across the industry will ensure that Canadian startups have excellent
guidance and technology at their disposal."
Along with providing access to the Microsoft Technology Center and the Microsoft
consulting team of e-commerce specialists, speedStart also provides access to
the Microsoft Developer Network's subscriber information, support materials,
publications and development software.
The strength of speedStart lies in its foundation on industry standard
solutions, and the alliance of three industry leaders who bring years of
technology and service experience to the program. By providing access to scarce
technical resources, world-class IT platforms and architectures, and flexible
financing, speedStart helps developing startups quickly enter the market, and
achieve profitability.
"Speed to profitability starts with a comprehensive, scalable IT infrastructure
that enables companies to run their businesses and go online fast," said David
Booth, President & Managing Director, Compaq Canada Inc. "Compaq, Microsoft and
Intel provide the most cost-effective, scalable and widely-used solutions in the
industry.
"In addition, Compaq's innovative client products allow Internet startups to
stay connected to important business and technical information anytime,
anywhere."
Through speedStart, technology startups can now receive customized leasing
solutions through Compaq Financial Services (CFS), enabling their future growth
and market viability. By providing supplemental lease financing to complement
their early stage venture capital financing, CFS will enable dot- coms to
rapidly deploy the latest Microsoft, Intel and Compaq technology to expand and
grow their businesses.
"Intel is committed to providing e-business solutions for the Internet economy.
Our efforts with the speedStart program further reflect our desire to accelerate
Internet startups' speed to profitability using the reliable and scalable Intel
Architecture," said Brett Udashkin, Regional Manager, Intel Canada Ltd. "Nothing
beats Intel architecture-based servers for building a scalable infrastructure
that can grow with the business as well as world-class price/performance."
eDrugstore.ca is the first Canadian Internet startup to take advantage of the
speedStart program. Scheduled to open for business later this fall,
eDrugstore.ca (www.edrugstore.ca) will fill and deliver prescriptions, and offer
a wide selection of drugstore products. Through their website, Canadians will be
able to browse information on health conditions and drug interactions and will
have private e-mail access to licensed pharmacists to ask questions so they can
make informed purchasing decisions.
"We are very excited to be selected as the first Internet start-up to enter the
Canadian speedStart program as our company is preparing to launch. This program
gives us access to both the expertise and the state-of-the-art technology of
Microsoft, Compaq and Intel," said Michael Burns, President, eDrugstore.ca. "We
are confident that this business relationship will accelerate the launch of our
website and the growth of our business."
About Compaq
Compaq Canada Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Compaq Computer Corporation of
Houston, Texas, markets offerings comprised of hardware, software, solutions and
services, including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions,
fault-tolerant, business-critical solutions, enterprise and network storage
products, commercial desktop and portable products, and consumer personal
computers.
With headquarters and distribution facilities in Richmond Hill, Compaq Canada
Inc. has 3,000 employees located in 41 offices across Canada, including
Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, London, Mississauga, Markham,
Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Moncton, Halifax and St. John's. With the
exception of its larger scale technologies and services, Compaq products and
services are sold and supported through a network of more than 3,800 marketing
partners across the country.
Compaq and the Compaq logo are registered with the United States Patent and
Trademark Office. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or
registered trademarks of their respective companies. This financial discussion
contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve a
number of risks and uncertainties. The potential risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially include: delays in the
implementation of changes in delivery models, component shortages, increased
competitive environment and pricing pressures, delays in product rollout
schedules, slow acceptance for new form factors, changes in product, customer
and geographic sales mix, employee retention, the financial condition of
resellers, delays in new systems implementation, operational inefficiencies
related to sales cycles, equity investment volatility, emerging market political
or economic instability and disruptions related to restructuring actions.
Further information on the factors that could affect Compaq's financial results
is included in Compaq's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings,
including the latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and the latest quarterly report
on Form 10-Q.
For further information, please visit our Web site at compaq.ca
About Intel
Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of
computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about
Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom.
Intel provides the building blocks that will help shape the future of the
Internet. The company is utilizing its own e-business experience to help supply
these building blocks; by the end of this year, Intel expects that 90% of its
own business will be conducted electronically over Internet servers in the less
than two years since beginning online sales.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft Corporation (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.
Microsoft is a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the
United States and/or other countries.
/Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on
Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at microsoft.ca
CONTACT: For further information: please contact: Hill and Knowlton: R
becca
Carson, (416) 413-1218 ext. 4553, rebecca.carson(at)hillandkn
wlton.ca;
Microsoft Canada Co.: Kathryn Porteous, (905) 568-0434 ext. 4
40,
kathp(at)microsoft.com; Compaq Canada Inc.: John B. Challinor
II, APR,
(416) 229-8936, john.challinor(at)compaq.ca; Intel Canada: Na
cy Demerling,
(416) 213-4116, nancy.demerling(at)intel.com
News release via Canada NewsWire, Toronto 416-863-9350 -ME-
Copyright (C) 2000 CNW, All rights reserved
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KEYWORD: TORONTO
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: CPR
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