To: Patrick E.McDaniel who wrote (156030 ) 4/5/2000 11:25:00 PM From: Dorine Essey Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 176387
Dell unveils new computers to support Web business -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Nicole Volpe NEW YORK, April 5 (Reuters) - Dell Computer Corp. DELL.O, the largest U.S. provider of personal computers, on Wednesday unveiled a new line of computers used to manage traffic and functions on Web sites as part of its push into the booming market for such "back office" hardware. Dell said the new line of PowerApp appliance servers -- computers that handle specific Web site management tasks -- would target the growing number of online service providers, dot-coms and businesses moving their operations online. "Businesses can no longer talk about what they are going to do on the Internet," said Dell Chief Executive and Chairman Michael Dell. "They need to act and act quickly." This rush to build online businesses is creating a huge boom in Internet infrastructure, the computers and connection lines that carry and organize all the data and transactions. Forecasts say the appliance server market will grow into an $11.5 billion market in 2004 from a $740 million market in 1999, according to International Data Corp. "Today's announcement demonstrates that Dell is all over the opportunities in the Internet infrastructure area without significantly modifying its traditional model," said Banc of America analyst Kurt King. The first appliance servers offered by Dell include one that will specifically handle Web hosting and another to handle Web caching, which is a method of speeding access by storing frequently used information closer to users. The PowerApp.web 100 will include versions of software from Microsoft Corp. MSFT.O and Red Hat Inc.'s RHAT.O Linux line, with prices starting at $1,899. The PowerApp.cache 100 and 200 version, with prices starting at $4,399 will also include Novell Inc.'s NOVL.O Internet caching server technology. "Now that Dell has product to meet demand, it is ready for a full-scale attack on the burgeoning infrastructure server market," said Joyce Tompsett Becknell of Aberdeen Group. Other computer makers have also eyed the appliance server market. International Business Machines Corp. IBM.N recently unveiled its Netfinity A Web servers, and Compaq Computer Corp. CPQ.N has moved in with its TalkSmart caching appliances. Dell already has about a 9 percent share of the market for entry-level servers based on chips from Intel Corp. INTC.O, analysts said. The Round Rock, Texas-based company and other personal computer makers are positioning themselves in front of the fast-growing market to revive their businesses in the midst of falling PC prices. In a bid to get ahead of rivals, Dell also said it created consulting partnerships with Arthur Andersen and Gen3 Partners to help business clients to develop their Internet strategies. "This is a mix shift, in which Dell is going toward faster-growing, more cutting edge markets," said Kurt King, analyst with Banc of America. Earlier this year, Dell warned investors to expect growth rates in the low 30 percent range this year, down from historical year-over-year revenue growth of 50 percent, as the company seeks to recapture its stride in higher growth areas. Analyst said they expected an upbeat outlook from Dell in a meeting scheduled for Thursday. Chairman and Chief Executive Michael Dell said on Wednesday that a slowdown in corporate spending related to the year 2000 date change had passed. "Spending by corporate institutions around the world (has returned) to a more normal or even rising rate," Dell said in response to questions about his outlook for first quarter results. 859-1700)) REUTERS Rtr 19:14 04-05-00