Dell and Microsoft Team Up for Management Solution

Dell Inc. (www.dell.com) and Microsoft Corp. (www.Microsoft.com) have formed a strategic development partnership to improve the way customers manage systems across the enterprise.

As part of this partnership, the companies are simplifying the way customers update hundreds to thousands of Dell servers in their enterprise with the first unified change-management solution that leverages existing operating system management applications for hardware updates.

The companies are integrating Dell OpenManage 4 systems management software with Microsoft® Systems Management Server 2003 to unify the tools needed to update system software, operating systems and applications to one interface that customers can apply with one mouse click.

Customers have said time and resources spent on managing the high volume of updates to servers for security and application improvements are their biggest pain point and expense.

Addressing the cost and complexity of change management is the first deliverable from the expanded partnership, in which the companies will jointly develop, market and sell systems management software.

"Dell and Microsoft are breaking new ground in the effort to simplify IT operations for our customers," said Kevin Rollins, president and CEO of Dell in a news conference with Microsoft here today.

The joint development also exemplifies how Microsoft's Dynamic Systems Initiative envisions simplified, efficient management of entire distributed systems, including hardware and software.

"Enterprise customers want comprehensive solutions that span management of both hardware and software, and reduce complexity and cost," said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of Microsoft. "This partnership between Microsoft and Dell will help customers realize the promise of the Dynamic Systems Initiative, Microsoft's strategy to simplify management of distributed systems by more closely connecting developers and IT professionals throughout the application life cycle."

Dell Inc. Is a provider of products and services required for customers worldwide to build their information-technology and Internet infrastructures. Company revenue for the past four quarters totaled $45.4 billion.

Dell, through its direct business model, designs, manufactures and customizes products and services to customer requirements, and offers an extensive selection of software and peripherals.