Sheila, Compaq was over at the CeBit fair in Germany, and while there they announced a campaign to introduce businesses to online commerce. Here's one excerpt...there's also another where they said that they had software that would enable business to set up for online commerce. From this I infer that they are aware that the EU unit (replacing local currency) will necessitate implementing new software and hardware.
Wired world edges nearer at CeBIT trade fair
By William Boston
HANOVER, March 20 (Reuters) - If the world's leading technology companies attending Germany's CeBIT computer trade
fair are right, it won't be long before the vision of a wired economy is a daily reality.
In Europe, where high-tech firms have long been frustrated by slow growth, executives see signs of a coming boom that could
help close the gap.
During the first days of the trade fair here that runs to March 25, one trend became clear -- companies are increasingly turning
to the Internet to do business and liberalisation of European telecoms is creating a competitive force driving down prices and
forcing carriers to provide fast, innovative networks.
An International Data Corp survey, presented at a news conference by U.S. chip maker Intel Corp (INTC - news), found that
18 percent of companies in eight major west European nations were trying to sell products over the Internet last year and 39
percent planned to get into cyberspace this year.
The volume of goods and services purchased online in Europe would surge to $26 billion in 2001 from $3 billion this year.
U.S. e-commerce would total $22 billion this year and top $155 billion in 2001. Worldwide, the total would hit $28 billion this
year and $223 billion in 2001.
''A year ago we were describing a technology deficit. Europe was well behind North America,'' said Intel Europe chief Rob
Eckelmann. ''That is rapidly changing, the gap is closing.''
SMALL FIRMS RUSH ONLINE, PC MAKERS FOLLOW
One example is Schuhhaus Eduard Meier, a German shoe retailer that lets customers view video clips of how it makes shoes
by hand and see available models in 3-D images that can be turned and seen from all angles.
Another is Rombach und Haas, a German maker of cuckoo clocks, who turned to the Internet to boost sales. Shoppers
around the world can use its website to view its clocks from all angles and hear their distinctive chimes before pointing and
clicking their way to an online order.
Like Intel, Compaq Computer Corp (CPQ - news) used CeBIT as a venue to outline its strategy to tap small and
medium-sized businesses. It says this segment of the PC market is growing by 18 percent annually and will represent more
than half of the total PC market by 2000.
Intel displayed dizzying gains in computing power that would open up the market for home and small office computers priced
under $1,000.
It also demonstrated a PC with a Pentium II chip running at 700 megaherz -- more than twice the rate of today's speed king, a
333 megaherz model.
Such leaps in processing power would help to spark a boom in the Internet and a rise in the world's PC population to more
than one billion in the next few years, from 200 million now.
Compaq Announces Worldwide Strategy to Expand its Leadership in
Meeting Needs of SMB Customers
Editors' Summary Compaq Computer Corporation today announced:
HANOVER, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 19, 1998-- -- Compaq Entrepreneur Solutions, a worldwide initiative
to meet the computing needs of small- and medium-sized businesses; and
-- An overview of customized products, services, programs and partnerships to be rolled out worldwide throughout 1998 - to
provide SMBs robust, affordable and easy-to-use computing solutions to win in their marketplace.
Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:CPQ - news) today announced Compaq Entrepreneur Solutions, a global initiative
designed to best address the computing needs of small- and medium-sized businesses (SMB). Under the Compaq
Entrepreneur Solutions banner, Compaq plans to roll out a series of products, services, and programs that provide complete,
comprehensive and affordable solutions to SMBs.
''Our strategy is to offer tailored, integrated computing solutions that will help small- and medium-sized businesses compete at
new levels in today's global marketplace,'' said Eckhard Pfeiffer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Compaq. Pfeiffer
announced the company's strategy at the CeBIT tradeshow in Hanover, Germany. ''Our mission is to provide small and
medium-sized businesses a single point of accountability for comprehensive computing solutions that empower them to reach
their potential. Compaq will be the company that enables them to do more with computing.''
Compaq Entrepreneur Solutions is aimed at bringing the computing benefits once only affordable and designed for large
businesses to small- and medium-sized companies through an extensive range of products and services. The new initiative
greatly enhances Compaq support for the SMB community and positions Compaq as a single, accountable source to meet the
computing needs of SMB customers worldwide.
SMB Marketplace
SMBs represent the largest segment of the PC market. Its share is poised to exceed 50 percent of total worldwide PC unit
volume by the year 2000. The SMB market is growing at 18 percent per year - faster than either large enterprise or consumer
markets. Smaller businesses are rapidly becoming networked and are reaching out to the Internet(1). Compaq is best
positioned to meet the growing demand for servers and networking products.
''Small and medium-sized businesses are looking at technology as a strategic advantage to level the competitive playing field,''
said Bill Weaver, Vice President, North America Commercial Market, Compaq.
''With Compaq's core strengths in delivering affordable, quality solutions, we are partnering with industry leaders to deliver
total technology solutions that ensure compatibility, reliability, and seamless integration into a wide range of environments.''
Products
Building on its product leadership position in the SMB market, Compaq announced its commitment to offer affordable, tailored
products to help growing businesses compete. To satisfy the growing computing and networking needs of SMBs, Compaq
recently announced a portfolio of customized products including its Armada SB Series, Deskpro 2000 Small Business Edition
and ProSignia 200 Small Business Server, all value-packed and high performance technology solutions bundled with Microsoft
office productivity software.
Services & Programs
Beyond the new products, Compaq also is making a powerful commitment to the SMB market by launching a range of
programs to assist SMB customers with their day-to-day computing needs.
With the Compaq SMB Solution Provider Program, SMB customers will have access to a broad range of service and support
programs offered through Compaq resellers. Throughout 1998, Compaq will rollout telephone-based application software
support services, Internet and E-commerce support services tailored for SMBs who may not have their own internal IT
expertise.
With flexible leasing solutions from Compaq Capital, SMB customers can include hardware, software, and services into a
single, monthly payment that allow growing companies the ability to meet their computing needs today and protect their
investment for tomorrow.
Compaq is also launching new customer touch programs to provide Compaq customers with better access to Compaq
through call centers, web sites and database marketing activities. These programs will provide timely information on products
and services to customers, and generate demand for the company's resellers.
Partnerships
Through strategic partnerships with industry leaders, Compaq ensures that small and medium-sized businesses receive total
technology solutions that meet their specific needs.
Delivering on its commitment to leverage key partnerships and offer complete solutions, Compaq recently unveiled alliances
with IntraNetics, GoldMine Software Corp. With IntraNetics, Compaq offers SMBs an easy-to-use corporate Intranet
solution that includes a suite of 17 applications. To address customer asset management, GoldMine and Compaq offer a joint
affordable solution that assists SMBs in managing customer relationships and developing new business opportunities.
Compaq's Small and Medium-Sized Business Initiative
Compaq's small and medium-sized business initiative is focused on assisting growth-oriented companies in leveraging
technology as a strategic tool and enabling them to compete more effectively in today's global marketplace. This initiative is
comprised of industry-standard products, industry-wide partnerships, industry-leading service and support programs and total
business solutions. More information about Compaq's small and medium-sized initiative can be found at
www.compaq.com/smb.
Company Background
Founded in 1982, Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune 100 company, is a global information technology company.
Compaq is the fifth largest computer company in the world and the largest global supplier of personal computers. With
worldwide sales of $24.6 billion in 1997, Compaq develops and markets hardware, software, solutions and services, including
industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, networking products, commercial
desktop and portable products and consumer PCs. The company is an industry leader in environmentally friendly programs
and business practices.
Compaq products are sold and supported in more than 100 countries through a network of authorized Compaq marketing
partners. Customer support and information about Compaq and its products can be found at compaq.com or by
calling 1-800-OK-COMPAQ. Product information and reseller locations can be obtained by calling 1-800-345-1518.
Historical financial results have been restated to reflect the pooling of Tandem.
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Compaq, Registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or
registered trademarks of their respective companies. Microsoft is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft
Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks and MMX is a trademark of
Intel Corporation.
E.H.F. |
