Dell, EMC extend multibillion-dollar networked storage alliance

Dell and EMC today extended their five-year, multibillion-dollar strategic alliance by two years, reinforcing both companies` commitment to deliver the best networked storage solutions for organisations of all sizes. The original agreement was signed in October 2001 and will now extend through December 2008.

Since forming the alliance, more than 4 100 customers worldwide have chosen Dell/EMC storage systems. The companies have also collaborated on the introduction of new products and technologies and achieved significant milestones, including:

* A manufacturing agreement, enabling Dell to manufacture Dell/EMC CX200 storage systems worldwide;

* Joint services training of over 2 000 Dell professionals;

* A new series of Dell/EMC networked storage systems spanning customer needs from entry-level to enterprise-class;

* The industry`s first storage area network (SAN) system to integrate low-cost ATA and high-performance Fibre Channel technologies which can dramatically lower storage costs;

* A comprehensive suite of storage software to help ease management of storage systems and offer advanced disaster recovery benefits; and

* The acceleration of SAN and network attached storage (NAS) convergence, allowing customers to leverage their SAN investment when implementing NAS to provide greater capacity and scalability.

According to Steve Duplessie, founder of industry analyst firm Enterprise Storage Group: "This deal was always a match made in heaven. EMC`s leading storage products and Dell`s mastery of the direct model have been perfect for each other. The extension, coming after only two years of a five-year deal, tells me that the companies and their customers are more than happy with the progress to date."

Major customers deploying Dell/EMC solutions include Banco Santos in Brazil, The Bombay Company, Computer Sciences CSC Ltd, Cox Communications, Mercedes-Benz, Precision Resource Corporation, and Warburg Dillon Read. "Since this relationship was formed, EMC has continued to innovate and deliver market leading technology and Dell has taken that technology into previously untapped markets," said Joe Tucci, EMC president and CEO.

"Together, we`re helping a wide range of customers realise the TCO benefits of networked storage while taking market share from the competition. We both realise this relationship has been a win-win proposition."

Kevin Rollins, Dell president and COO, said: "Working with EMC we`ve been able to broaden the market for networked storage systems and deliver better value and performance to customers. Over the past 20 months, we have expanded Dell`s service portfolio, identified new markets to jointly address and delivered storage systems and software to reflect this commitment."