News release

Compaq Announces New Offerings to Simplify Trading Partner Relationships

Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) today announced a suite of new services and offerings that enable companies of any size to rapidly and seamlessly connect trading partners to e-procurement systems and industry/private exchanges using a single application.

The Compaq Supplier Enablement Solution automates the B2B selling process, enabling companies to increase revenue and business agility, lower costs, and leverage existing IT investments.

The Compaq Supplier Enablement Solution, which complements the new Microsoft Solution for Supplier Enablement, runs on optimized Compaq ProLiant servers, a recommended hardware platform, and consists of software, services and support from Compaq Global Services to provide a complete sell-side (supplier) solution for B2B e-commerce.

"To meet the market need for full B2B e-commerce solutions, the Compaq Supplier Enablement Solution provides the hardware, software and services to enable customers to realize the benefits of the Microsoft Solution for Supplier Enablement quicker, with less risk and at a lower cost," said Rick Fricchione, vice president, Enterprise Ready Microsoft Practice Group for Compaq Global Services. "Our long-standing relationship with Microsoft, proven expertise in Microsoft technologies, and understanding of the requirements for enterprise B2B e-commerce solutions empower Compaq to deliver the right solution for enterprises of any size."

To help customers specifically implement the Microsoft Solution for Supplier Enablement, Compaq has also created a Supplier Enablement Startup Package. The fixed-price package consists of an industry standard ProLiant server, all the necessary software, installation and support services, and a special startup consulting service designed to get the solution up and running quickly. Compaq is also offering a complete portfolio of Trading Partner Enablement services for planning, designing, and implementing e-marketplaces and exchanges, and automating trading partner relations using the Microsoft Solution for Supplier Enablement or other technologies such as EDI, RosettaNet or HIPAA.

"Compaq's combination of the Supplier Enablement solution, Global Services professionals trained on the Microsoft .NET platform, and a strong history of delivering enterprise-class hardware running Microsoft software positions Compaq well to help enterprise customers address their unique business-to-business selling problems with the Microsoft Solution for Supplier Enablement," said Chris Atkinson, vice president, .NET Enterprise Server Group, Microsoft Corp. "Customers have told us they want to improve operational efficiencies and reduce costs and the Microsoft Solution for Supplier Enablement, along with the platform, services and support offered by Compaq, helps customers meet these objectives."

Ingram Macrotron, the central European arm of Ingram Micro which is a distributor of IT software and equipment, is one of the first customers to take advantage of the Compaq Supplier Enablement Solution by implementing the Microsoft Solution for Supplier Enablement on Compaq ProLiant servers with project management and system integration services from Compaq Global Services.

"Our new Microsoft BizTalk Server platform gives our customers easy and continuous access to the ordering system and greatly increases the efficiency of order processing. The XML based solution has reduced sales costs and raised customer satisfaction," said Barbara Neumann, vice president, IT & Organization, Ingram Macrotron, Central European Region. "The Compaq Global Services project team defined and deployed a high quality solution in just 5 weeks, which we literally regard as a miracle."

The Compaq Supplier Enablement Solution, startup package and full suite of Trading Partner Enablement services is available now.

Company Background

Founded in 1982, Compaq Computer Corporation ("Compaq") is a leading global provider of enterprise technology and solutions. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures and markets hardware, software, solutions and services, including industry-leading enterprise storage and computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, communication products, and desktop and portable personal computers that are sold in more than 200 countries. Information on Compaq and its products and services is available at http://www.compaq.com.