Fujitsu and Microsoft have announced a major expansion of their global alliance in Windows platform enterprise infrastructure and application solutions focusing on the Microsoft .NET Framework and .NET Enterprise Servers.
Local Fujitsu subsidiary, ICL`s infrastructure services division`s national sales manager, Kethan Parbhoo, said both companies will build on their previous collaborative efforts in Japan and other regions by launching new global-scale joint initiatives focused on XML Web services, business-critical computing and mobility.
"In addition, through the expanded alliance with Microsoft, Fujitsu`s principal IT platform, consulting and services units and affiliates - including Fujitsu Technology Solutions, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, Fujitsu Consulting and Fujitsu Services - will be combined into a unified corporate alliance structure. This consolidation will help position the Fujitsu Group as a leading one-stop source of end-to-end .NET enterprise solutions worldwide," he explained.
"This alliance will allow our Windows customers to enjoy comprehensive and productive development tools, such as Microsoft`s Visual Studio .NET and Fujitsu`s NetCOBOL for .NET, as well as mission-critical Web services processing," said Junji Maeyama, senior vice president in charge of strategy for the Platforms Business Group at Fujitsu Limited. "Empowering our customers with this kind of business-critical Web services infrastructure, including consulting and solutions offerings, is what will set Fujitsu apart from our competitors."
".NET is about connecting systems and information in the enterprise to enable customers to derive real value from existing technology investments and create a more agile enterprise," said Sanjay Parthasarathy, corporate vice president for .NET Platform Strategy at Microsoft. "Relationships such as the one we`ve announced today between industry leaders Fujitsu and Microsoft are critical to successfully providing enterprises with a means to efficiently and quickly harness the power of XML Web services."
"Fujitsu is committed to building long-term relationships with enterprise customers by offering end-to-end infrastructure and application solutions that add value to their businesses now and position them for success in the evolving broadband Internet era," said Naoyuki Akikusa, president and CEO of Fujitsu Limited.
"Through this expanded groupwide alliance with Microsoft, we look forward to bringing the benefits of Fujitsu`s high-performance and high-reliability computing platforms and deep IT services and consulting expertise to a broader base of enterprise customers worldwide," he said.
Key Alliance Initiatives
The expanded alliance will feature the following key initiatives:
* XML Web services infrastructure for Microsoft .NET.
Fujitsu will develop a Microsoft .NET version of its Interstage middleware, taking advantage of its distinguished consulting and integration expertise to offer comprehensive .NET-based services and solutions that utilise Microsoft`s enterprise software, including the .NET Framework, Visual Studio.NET and .NET Enterprise Servers, worldwide. Fujitsu`s field-proven Interstage middleware has been deployed in more than 30 000 servers in large-scale mission-critical business environments around the world. Fujitsu also will provide a vertical XML Web service offering for the insurance industry, called iFIRST, on .NET.
* Business-critical computing solutions.
By expanding marketing and sales collaboration, as well as product-level technical cooperation, and design and application efforts, the companies will offer business-critical computing solutions that provide corporate customers with secure and reliable computing environments that comprise Fujitsu`s hardware and middleware and Microsoft`s .NET enterprise products.
Offerings will include Disaster Tolerant Messaging on Exchange for Fujitsu`s high-performance PRIMERGY family of Intel-based servers and high-speed Microsoft SQL Server nonstop backup solutions for its ETERNUS GR storage systems. Fujitsu`s global reach and deep expertise in business-critical consulting and integration services for Microsoft`s enterprise products, including legacy migration services, are key advantages in developing these solutions.
* Mobility.
Reflecting the increasing importance of seamless integration between mobile technologies and corporate computing environments, the alliance will focus on developing mobile communications solutions and applications that run on Microsoft Exchange and Mobile Information Servers and support Fujitsu`s mobility services and products, such as the recently announced Pocket LOOX and its market-leading pen tablet PCs. In addition, Fujitsu intends to offer Mobility for mySAP.com running on SQL Server and various Windows-based mobile devices. Fujitsu will deploy these comprehensive solutions to meet the growing demand for multichannel, multisecurity and multigeneration services worldwide.
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Fujitsu is a leading provider of customer-focused IT and communications solutions for the global marketplace. Pace-setting technologies, high-reliability/performance computing and telecommunications platforms, and a worldwide corps of systems and services experts make Fujitsu uniquely positioned to unleash the infinite possibilities of the broadband Internet to help its customers succeed. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Ltd. (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 5 trillion yen (about US$38 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2002. For more information, please see: http://www.fujitsu.com/
Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (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, Windows and Visual Studio are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. Fujitsu, Interstage, NetCOBOL, ETERNUS and Pocket LOOX are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Fujitsu Limited in Japan and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
"Microsoft is very excited about this expanded relationship with Fujitsu," said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. "The initiatives we`re focused on together - particularly XML Web services and mobility - are critical to delivering a new level of agility and value to businesses worldwide. The combined expertise and experience of Microsoft and Fujitsu in enterprise computing will help customers reap the benefits of the new generation of computing while protecting investments in their existing technologies."
"Fujitsu is committed to building long-term relationships with enterprise customers by offering end-to-end infrastructure and application solutions that add value to their businesses now and position them for success in the evolving broadband Internet era," said Naoyuki Akikusa, president and CEO of Fujitsu Limited "Through this expanded groupwide alliance with Microsoft, we look forward to bringing the benefits of Fujitsu`s high-performance and high-reliability computing platforms and deep IT services and consulting expertise to a broader base of enterprise customers worldwide."
ICL
ICL South Africa, a subsidiary of Fujitsu Services Plc (Formerly ICL Plc), is one of the leading IT services companies in Europe, Middle East and Africa. It has an annual turnover of lb2,4-billion (EUR3.9 billion), employs 15 500 people and operates in over 30 countries. It designs, builds and operates IT systems and services for customers in the financial services, telecoms, retail, utilities and government markets. Its core strength is the delivery of IT infrastructure management and outsourcing across desktop, networking and data centre environments, together with a full range of related services, from infrastructure consulting through integration and deployment.
Headquartered in London, Fujitsu Services is the European-centred IT services arm of the Fujitsu Group. The Fujitsu Group is a $38-billion (about EUR43-billion) leader in customer-focused IT systems and services for the global marketplace.
Prior to April 2002 Fujitsu Services operated as ICL. Website: services.fujitsu.com
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