Seagate pursues emerging markets for intelligent storage platforms

Seagate Technology today announced the establishment of its new Intelligent Storage Platforms group, an organization which will leverage the Company`s leadership in network and server storage to deliver innovative solutions for new network devices, the Internet, high-performance servers and other information-centric computing applications. These solutions will combine hardware, software and services to provide new products for the Company`s existing OEM and strategic distributor customer base and address the needs of emerging markets for storage and storage-related applications.

"Twenty years ago, Seagate helped propel the PC revolution by bringing information storage to the desktop. Since then, we have extended our capabilities to become the number one provider of Enterprise storage devices," said Steve Luczo, Seagate president and CEO. "The Internet and the shift to information-centric computing provide dynamic market opportunities for a company with our unique capabilities. We will build on our leadership in storage by developing new core competencies and partnerships in software, services and targeted applications, to provide both existing customers and new entrants in emerging markets with a broader range of products."

Intelligent Storage Platforms` solutions are focused on the emergence of Information Appliances, application-based servers, and storage services to benefit users by delivering a greater range of online services, higher networked-computing performance, and a reduced IT cost structure.

"Seagate must continue to drive technology advances and partner with other leaders in area such as Storage Networking, Information Management and new network architectures," said Valerie Negler, Seagate vice president and head of Intelligent Storage Platforms. "This new group`s activities reflect a strategic shift in the importance of storage in networking and network architectures.

Dave Aune, executive director of Intelligent Storage Platforms added, "Our unique capacity to invest significant resources in technology, R&D and joint development activities will enable Seagate to extend its ability to provide strategic, embedded storage solutions."

In addition to activity with its broad OEM customer base, the Company has initiated joint development with a number of partners whose core competencies in networking, storage management, and performance processing complement Seagate`s strengths. This includes working with companies such as Veritas, Hewlett-Packard`s e-Services Group, Axis Communications, Gadzoox Networks, Dragon Systems, Seagate Software and others. The number of cooperative partnerships is expected to increase in the coming months.