Hewlett-Packard Co. Tuesday unleashed a
three-pronged business strategy aimed at the heart of the Internet’s $10.8
billion entry-level server market.
The introduction of its A-Class servers is designed to enable service
providers, Internet start-ups and enterprises to reduce the time it takes
to design and deploy new electronic services.
Hewlett-Packard’s strategy includes the introduction of
its entry-level HP 9000 A400 and A500 UNIX system servers.
In order to fuel demand for the servers, Hewlett-Packard secured agreements
with 20 leading Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) that have committed to
the server solution.
Hewlett-Packard also introduced its new server lineup with equipment on
demand initiatives, financing and technical support.
Janice Chaffin, Hewlett-Packard critical computing business unit
vice president and general manager, said the company is providing a
comprehensive new class of ISP server solutions.
“We’re packing in a complete entry-level solution with our new A-Class
servers,” Chaffin said. “We’re offering a comprehensive array of Internet
software applications, customized financing, and special services tailored
for entry-level Internet computing.
Chaffin added that the Hewlett-Packard business program addresses enables
access provider’s to quickly support value-added services for their customers.
“Customers can accelerate their time to revenue because we’ve eliminated
the complexity of building and running systems for the Internet,” Chaffin said.
Hewlett-Packard’s new A-Class servers come packed with Nokia Corp. Web server
support so the boxes are Wireless Application Protocol-ready. The Internet
server includes Infoseek
Corporation’s search engine support and Resonate Inc.’s load-balancing
software. Options include Java optimized UNIX and Linux operating system
servers.
Ultraseek Server, the premier search application from Infoseek, comes with
a 500-document license, which creates a scalable, administrative-friendly
e-search tool. Ultraseek is optimized for use on enterprise portals, large
intranets, and content-rich Web sites. It features natural language search
functionality.
Mark Hudson, Hewlett-Packard Business Critical Computing Business Unit
worldwide marketing director, said the Ultraseek Server fit the needs of
its A-Class server lineup.
“Specifically, great power, scalability, and administrative ease to address
the unpredictable demands of the Internet and promote faster time-to-market
for e-services,” Hudson said. “”Through power packed servers and software
applications designed for quality and reliability, we are delivering
complete entry-level solution full of Internet value.”
Andrew Feit, Infoseek Software vice president and general manager said the
two companies have always shared a common view on how important customer
satisfaction is.
“Together, we are providing start-ups and other enterprises with a
cost-effective, powerful server-based search solution that can grow with
their business,” Feit said. “Ultraseek is well known for its power,
scalability and ease-of-use, and this gives customers the assurance that
they are getting the best solution available.”
Hewlett-Packard A-Class can be stacked 20 to a rack in order to give
service providers the flexibility they need to handle increasing Internet
traffic. Because the A-Class is a scalable server, customers can add extra
processors or increase processor speed to provide peak performance without
having to buy another server.
Hewlett-Packard secured more than 20 agreements with ISVs so popular
software applications can run on the HP-UX platform. The ISVs fall into
four high-g
rowthareas including wireless, Internet infrastructure,
e-commerce and content distribution.
In addition to Infoseek and Resonate applications, Hewlett-Packard’s
A-Class servers include software from Chili!Soft, Inc., content distribution
with Inktomi, Inc. , Information Architects,
Corp. and Ironside Technologies,
Inc. business-to-business e-commerce applications.
Information Architects provides XML-based solutions for
dynamic syndication and aggregation of e-commerce content. Its flagship
Metaphoria Framework is featured on Hewlett-Packard’s A-Class servers.
Robert Gruder, Information Architect chief executive officer, said its
Metaphoria Framework would help Hewlett-Packard’s servers dynamically drive
both content and functionality to any site or device connected to the Net.
“Coupling Metaphoria with the power, scalability, and manageability of the
A-Class server offers customers innovative, comprehensive metadata
solutions that bring site stickiness to new heights,” Gruder said.
Hewlett-Packard’s Hudson said that because its A-Class servers are built
for the Internet, they are the most scalable and highest-performing servers
in the entry-level server market.
“Thanks to pioneering software solutions like iA’s Metaphoria, HP’s A-Class
servers will offer customers unprecedented new abilities, Hudson said. “HP
customers will be empowered by Metaphoria’s unique ability to take data in
any format and deliver it to any Web-connected device in real time.”
To help service providers plan for unpredictable demands of
Internet-enabled clients, Hewlett-Packard developed a server-on-demand
program as an extension of its instant capacity-on-demand offering.
The program allows customers to keep Hewlett-Packard’s servers on their
site without an initial commitment to buy them. In that way, customers can
increase computing capacity at a moment’s notice on a pay-as-they-go basis.
The A400 starts at $4,600 and the A500 starts at $9,200. The
Hewlett-Packard 9000 A400 and A500 servers can be ordered beginning in June.
