Following lengthy negotiations, Novell has signed an agreement with SITA (State Information Technology Agency) to deploy NetWare 6 throughout the South African Police Service (SAPS) network.
The order was placed under Novell`s Master Licence Agreement, signed in January 2002 and which, says Novell major accounts manager John Greeff, will result in the largest government installation of NetWare 6 to date.
"NetWare 6 is the latest release of Novell`s flagship network operating system and includes several new features which will benefit the SAPS," Greeff declares. "The SAPS upgraded their network to NetWare 5.0 two years ago, just before the formation of SITA and the subsequent total outsource of the SAPS IT."
The agreement provides for the procurement of Novell software, services and solutions for all government departments. Provision has also been made for upgrades or cross-grades from older versions or competitive products, and customers may choose to include software maintenance for future versions. Technical support and Novell professional consulting services are also included in the contract.
Greeff says Novell is pleased to have concluded an agreement that will allow it to showcase NetWare 6 in the largest network in the South African government. "We are already looking at several value-added services which we can propose to the SAPS, on top of the new software.
"Based on the instructions issued by minister Geraldine Fraser Molekete, we must work together with SITA `E` (the contract procurement division of SITA) to provide a vehicle for both SITA and independent departments to purchase our products. We are privileged to be one of only a few vendors that have successfully concluded a contract with SITA, and the ease of use of this contract has been proven with this and several other orders," Greeff concludes.
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