Dell and VMware Simplify Disaster Recovery with Integrated Virtual Data Center Solution

• In keeping with Dell’s mission to simplify IT, Dell today announced the seamless integration of Dell EqualLogic storage arrays with VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM), which automates disaster recovery (DR) management in virtual infrastructures. As one of VMware’s largest resellers and Global Technology Alliance Partners, Dell and its network of Enterprise- Architecture-certified channel partners can now deliver a complete end-to-end DR automation and management solution. The combined Dell EqualLogic/VMware solution integrates PS Series Auto-Replication directly into SRM using PS Series SRM Storage Adapter software developed by Dell.
• VMware SRM enables non-disruptive, automated testing of recovery plans and automates the recovery process using SAN-based data volumes replicated to the remote site by native PS Series Auto-Replication software. Both Auto-Replication and the SRM Storage Adapter are provided by the suite of enterprise storage management features included with every PS Series array, helping to reduce the cost and complexity of implementing DR.
• “Our business depends on maintaining a highly reliable, scalable data center infrastructure that can support over half a million transactions per day,” said Donald Wilkins, IT director of Navicure, a national provider of Web-based revenue-cycle-management services for physicians “We started with storage consolidation onto a Dell EqualLogic PS Series SAN, added VMware Virtual Infrastructure 3, and now are testing SRM to complete our fully automated business continuity processes. With Dell EqualLogic and VMware we can continue to service more customers more efficiently with ease and confidence.”
• “We needed a robust yet easy-to-deploy DR solution to protect our business, which we run on a large Dell EqualLogic SAN with VMware Virtual Infrastructure 3, which is why we tested SRM,” said Derek Knox, Server Architect for the PCL family of companies, a group of independent construction companies that form the largest general contracting organization in Canada and the eighth largest in North America. “Our experience demonstrated the high degree of automation of SRM with PS Series arrays; and the ability to simulate virtual data center failure and recovery gave us great confidence in our ability to maintain business continuity under many circumstances.”
• “The combination of the Dell EqualLogic PS Series and VMware’s new Site Recovery Manager product is an ideal solution to meet the needs of our customers for simpler, more affordable business continuity,” said Scott Miller, president of Server Centric Consulting, a leading VMware Authorized Consultancy firm based in Saint Louis, Missouri. “The level of automation, simplicity, and advanced integration enhance our team’s ability to design and deliver simple, cost-effective disaster recovery solutions to customers of all sizes.”
• “Dell customers in all industries worldwide are deploying VMware virtualization to enjoy high availability and flexibility in their IT environments,” said John Joseph, vice president of marketing for Dell EqualLogic storage solutions, Dell Inc. “We have taken great care to ensure that PS Series storage arrays work as intuitively with VMware as they do with each other, with the goal of making uninterrupted uptime a reality for today’s data centers.”

Dell Unveils Virtualization Blockbuster – From Servers and Storage to Software and Services

Dell today announced its broadest lineup of dedicated virtualization solutions ever. More than a dozen new servers, tools, and services simplify the deployment and management of virtualization in Enterprises of any size.

• New online advisor tools and e-commerce capability streamlines deployment
• New Dell PowerEdge R805, R905 servers optimized for virtualization
• New integration between Dell EqualLogic storage arrays and VMware Site Recovery Manager
• New automated virtual data center management solutions from Dell and Egenera
• New and enhanced services ‘right-size’ virtualization solutions for customer needs

“Virtualization is quickly moving beyond hypervisors and hardware consolidation,” said Rick Becker, vice president of software and solutions, Dell Product Group. “Enterprises are looking for a broad array of servers, storage and services designed specifically for virtualized environments. Having been a leader in the first wave of virtualization, today we are signaling our intent to lead the second.”

Simplified Purchase, Upgrade and Deployment of Virtualization Offerings

Dell has simplified the path to purchase and deploy virtualized Dell PowerEdge servers with updated on-line tools, new e-commerce capability and expanded factory integration. With the updated Virtualization Advisor tool, customers have more options for building validated configurations on-line for virtualization deployments before purchase. Customers can easily upgrade PowerEdge servers purchased with VMware ESXi 3.5 to full VMware Infrastructure 3 enterprise licensing in a single click. Dell will also offer in coming weeks factory integrated VMware ESXi 3.5 or Citrix XenServer Dell Express Edition across a broad range of PowerEdge servers, including the PowerEdge 2950, R900, 1950, 2900, M600 blade and M605 blade.

New Dell PowerEdge Servers Built For Virtualization

The new Dell PowerEdge R805 and R905 deliver servers optimized for virtualization with the PowerEdge R805 offering 2X the memory and I/O capacity of Dell’s previous generation 2 socket servers. With a choice of VMware ESXi 3.5 or Citrix XenServer Dell Express Edition integrated hypervisors, the PowerEdge R805 and R905 servers can deliver the optimal platform for virtualized environments. The Dell PowerEdge R805 and R905 servers are now available worldwide with a starting price of $3,049 and $6,499 respectively.

The Dell PowerEdge R900 and R905 can deliver the ultimate in 4 socket virtualization performance as some of the first servers to support 60 virtual machines in VMmark testing, with 23 percent higher virtualization performance than the HP ProLiant DL580 G5, 8 percent higher than the IBM System x3850, and 16 percent higher than the Sun Fire X44501. The PowerEdge R905 delivered price per virtualization performance at 25 percent less cost than the IBM x3850, 36 percent less cost than the Sun X4450, and 15 percent less cost than the HP Proliant DL5801. This is in addition to Dell’s leadership with number 1 virtualization performance benchmarks in 2 socket servers with the PowerEdge M-Series blades and the PowerEdge 2950III.

Dell EqualLogic Delivers Advanced Integration with VMware Site Recovery Manager

Dell EqualLogic storage arrays offer new advanced SAN-aware integration with VMware Site Recovery Manager for data protection and disaster recovery for virtualized environments at no additional cost in management tools. Combined with Dell EqualLogic patented storage virtualization technology designed to eliminate the complexity of SAN deployment and management, customers can more easily provision and manage their virtual storage environments.

Dell and Egenera Driving New Path to Virtual Data Center Automation

Dell and Egenera are making virtualization and data center automation a reality beyond the blade chassis. The Dell PAN system is built on proven PowerEdge 1950 and 2950 servers and Dell/EMC storage, with Citrix XenServer and factory integrated as a complete, turn-key solution that consolidates and virtualizes server compute-resources into an entire Processor Area Network to be managed like hard drives in a SAN. The Dell PAN system can deliver rapid provisioning and re-deployment in minutes not weeks.

New Services ‘Right-Size’ Solutions for Customer Needs

Dell today announced the expansion of its virtualization services to include:

• Virtualization Simplification Workshop – for customers looking to determine which options are the most suitable for their specific business needs today, their technical environment and to meet future growth.
• New Virtualization Operational Assessment and Process Automation accelerates selection of the right virtualization technology for their needs and define processes and tools to automate the management of virtualized environments.
• New Virtualization Healthcheck – reviews existing virtualized production environments to identify technology, process and people issues impeding virtualization scale out and provides an actionable, results oriented plan.
• Expanded Virtualization Assessment – taking into account multi-vendor virtualization considerations, advanced storage options, as well as green IT data center energy efficiency improvements.
• Dell PAN Accelerator Service – integrating a full Processing Area Network within the customer environment to help ensure production readiness.
• Expanded Design and Implementation Services – which features the latest Virtualization technologies, in addition to best-of-breed disaster recovery tools and techniques.
• ProSupport Remote Advisory Services – fast access to technical experts for consulting on virtualization implementations.

Dell, NFIB Announce 10 of Nation’s Most Innovative Companies as Part of Global Small Business Excellence Award

Dell and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the leading small-business association in the United States, today announced the 10 U.S. finalists for the Fifth Annual Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence Award.

“The No. 1 reason small businesses use technology is to better serve customers, and no one is doing that better than this year’s 10 finalists,” said Frank Muehleman, vice president and general manager of Dell Small and Medium Business. “These companies are applying technology in innovative ways to break new ground and raise the bar. We’re proud to recognize their success and help tell their stories.”

Selected by students at George Washington University, finalists receive a Dell business-class laptop and one-year NFIB membership and go on to compete for the national award to be announced June 9, 2008, at the NFIB National Small-Business Summit in Washington, D.C.
“Our research shows that small firms are twice as innovative per employee as larger firms, and the companies who entered demonstrate that fact,” said NFIB President and CEO Todd Stottlemyer. “These companies are the cream of the crop, representing the top 5 percent of entries. We are proud to showcase the finalists and emphasize how technology can help our members thrive and grow their businesses.”

Once named, 12 national winners from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France (launching May 13), Germany, Italy, Japan (launching May 19), Mexico, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States will be considered for the inaugural global Dell Small Business Excellence Award worth $50,000 in Dell technology and services. All national winners will be announced by September, and the global winner will be announced in the fall 2008.

The U.S. 2008 Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence Award finalists include:

• Escape Technology , Roseville, Calif., builds ERP Finance, HR and Payroll applications for public school systems in California.
• Glance Networks , Arlington, Mass., provides a simple, web-based, desktop sharing service designed to make online meetings, remote presentations and web conferences easy enough for anyone to host or view, from any computer, anywhere in the world.
• MedApps, Inc. , Scottsdale, Ariz., produces a mobile wireless health monitoring system that helps monitor patients with Diabetes, Asthma, Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) and other chronic diseases.
• RNs On-Call , LLC, Greensboro, N.C., provides cost effective telehealth services and contact call center solutions that improve patient's access to quality healthcare. Provides cost effective telehealth services and contact call center solutions that improve patient's access to quality healthcare.
• Rugroden Drafting & Design , Onalaska, Wis., is a residential drafting and design service that creates construction drawings and incorporates the latest 3-D technology allowing customers to digitally walk through their virtual home.
• ServusXchange, LLC , Pompano Beach, Fla., runs MyOnlineToolbox.com, an Internet-based community platform that allows residential property contractors to manage front- and back-office processes.
• TecAccess , Rockville, Va., employs individuals with physical, emotional and intellectual disabilities, including veterans with disabilities, to work in leading IT roles that help federal government agencies and large corporations design and use technology that is more accessible and user-friendly for all.
• TechMD , Fountain Valley, Calif., is a Managed Service Provider (MSP) that offers a full service virtual IT department to non-profit businesses at an affordable price.
• Transport Designs, Inc. , Montoursville, Pa., manufactures highly customized enclosed trailers and truck conversion motor homes, adapting to customers’ needs on a detailed design level. Your Beauty Network , Carlsbad, Calif., is a membership-based business support service for salon and spa professionals in the U.S. and Canada.

Global 2008 Small Business Excellence Award Value

• $50,000 in technology and services from Dell;
• Featured in an entrepreneurs summit;
• Lifetime membership to the International Council for Small Business (ICSB), and
• Engagement with Endeavor’s network of business leaders and high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets worldwide.

U.S. 2008 Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence Award Value

• $25,000 in Dell products and services;
• Day of best-practice sharing with Dell executives, including Chairman and CEO Michael Dell, andLifetime membership to NFIB.

Purdue University Chooses Dell for Campus Supercomputer

The Purdue University Boilermakers celebrated another championship yesterday with the installation of a new high-performance computing cluster (HPCC) from Dell that is the largest on campus at any school in the Big 10 Conference outside of national computing centers.

More than 200 university employees participated in the process of building the HPCC in just half a day, designated as “Installation Day,” from its arrival on campus through racking and loading the software to bring the systems online.

The new HPCC will be used for research across a variety of disciplines, including engineering, biological and earth and atmospheric sciences, mathematics and physics. The leading researchers at Purdue pooled their grants and provided a majority of the funding for the cluster, which is housed at Purdue’s Mathematics Building on campus.

The Purdue supercomputer consists of 812 Dell PowerEdge 1950 dual quad-core computer nodes and is predicted to have a peak performance of more than 60 teraflops, which means it could perform more than 60 trillion operations in one second.

“This new supercomputer will enhance Purdue’s research capabilities and support our efforts to make significant advances in a variety of areas, from designing new drugs and materials to learning the structures of disease-causing viruses,” said Gerry McCartney, vice president for information technology and chief information officer, Purdue University. “The Dell servers will be used for research by scientists and engineers from across campus.”

“Purdue is a wonderful example of a university investing in the technology tools it needs to conduct leading-edge research,” said John Mullen, Dell vice president of higher education. “High-performance computing is supporting research that benefits society, and the work that Purdue researchers are driving will yield new insights and discoveries for years to come.”

Downtown Art Scene Arrives on Your Laptop with New Mike Ming Designs from Dell

Unorthodox, adventurous contemporary art meets on-the-go technology with the inaugural Special Art Edition Inspiron 1525 laptop, featuring two exclusive artworks by Mike Ming. Choose from “Bunch O Surfers” or “Sea Sky,” two unique designs that reflect Mike Ming’s quest to create art that relates to broad audiences, yet speaks directly to everyone.

The laptops are available for order today, starting at $699.

A new Dell manufacturing technique brings alive every color and brushstroke on the laptop’s cover, creating a fluid, graffiti-inspired tattoo effect that lets style pioneers add another level of individuality to everyday life.

The Inspiron 1525 is up to 25 percent smaller, thinner and almost a half a pound lighter than its predecessor. Consumers on the go will appreciate all of the optional wireless features that help them stay connected, whether it’s at the desk, in a room, around the house or just about anywhere in a wireless network.

Brooklyn-based artist Mike Ming (born Michael Miyahira) brings fascination with popular culture and life experiences to the canvas. “I wanted to create a sense of energy, playfulness, sophistication and psychedelic momentum when I started this,” said Ming. “This new technique from Dell brings my inspiration—water and the energy it produces—to life and gives computer aficionados their own display of style.”

“Our customers have asked that we continue to look at other areas of life, apart from technology, to help bring a sense of uniqueness to their computers,” said Ed Boyd, vice president of Consumer Experience Design at Dell. “Mike Ming and the other artists in the series represent the shift in the level of customer design input, a trend we’re excited to see continue.”

Dell XPS 730 H2C: Four-Barreled Gaming Horsepower

Dell has raised the performance bar yet again with the launch of the XPS 730 H2C edition, a premier gaming desktop that is one of the most advanced gaming platforms on the planet.

• Play Crysis at full 1920x1200 resolution and 30+ FPS with Quad Graphics
• Enhanced optional patent-pending H2C cooling solution keeps gamers in the red zone, CPUs out
• Choice of Painted Anodized Aluminium H2C chassis or Silver Brushed Aluminium air-cooled chassis with optional X-View clear panel for under-the-hood ogling

With support for optional quad-core processors, quad GPU graphics solutions and up to four hard drives, the XPS 730 is more than ready to deliver an immersive experience and ensure gamers pwn their opponents in the most demanding PC games available today.

The air-cooled XPS 730 (starting at $3,999) and XPS 730 H2C (starting at $4,999) bring together some of the top bleeding-edge performance technologies gamers crave, such as:

• The new NVIDIA nforce 790i Ultra SLI chipset with standard ATX motherboard, one of the industry’s most overclockable1 platforms for Intel processors.
• Optional factory-overclocked1Intel CoreTM 2 Extreme processors and Corsair DOMINATORTM DDR3 memory.
• Support for a variety of optional high performance graphics solutions, including the ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 in four- way CrossFireX or NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT with SLI technology.Up to four hard drives factory installed, supporting a variety of high performance RAID arrays.

“There is a measure of satisfaction involved in delivering products that meet the expectations of a unique set of customers who are incredibly knowledgeable, passionate, intense and competitive,” said Arthur Lewis, head of Dell’s gaming group. “With XPS and Alienware gaming systems we've been progressively delivering an awe-inspiring experience to gamers and now, with the XPS 730, we’ve set the bar for a truly kick-ass gaming experience.”

The optional patent-pending H2C cooling solution has also been enhanced. Originally co-developed by Dell, Intel, Delphi and CoolIT, the two-stage ceramic cooling solution has been redesigned to fit an ATX motherboard. Other enhancements include:

• Re-designed the CPU cold plate to provide more uniform cooling to all four processor cores, reducing the hottest core temperature when running at full load.
• Added an additional cold plate to cool the chipset. Lower chipset temperature helps improve stability with frontside bus overclocking.
• Added dynamic speed control to the pump and fans to help eliminate audible noise when the system is at idle.
• Added a separate fan to provide assured cooling to the CPU’s voltage regulator components.

Technology enthusiasts should check out Dell engineer Chuck Hood’s VLOG detailing the enhancements on the H2C cooling solution as well as Dell Gaming program manager Louis Bruno’s updated tips on overclocking.

External chassis armor choices include premium materials like 2.4mm anodized aluminum on the XPS 730 H2C in Victory Red and Stealth Blue or brushed aluminum in Silver on the air-cooled XPS 730. Each can be configured with an optional X-View clear side panel that allows sneak peeks at the high performance components, and is easy to remove for upgrades. Additional “under the hood” details include:

• Standard ATX motherboard, 1 kilowatt 80PLUS power supply, and clean cable management for easy component upgrades
• Large, quiet pulse width modulation (PWM) fans
• Support for the new Enthusiast System Architecture (ESA), enabling real-time and complete PC performance management, while delivering new control and monitoring features for thermal, electric and acoustic characteristics.

Dell Expands Its Retail Presence to Australia

Dell today announced plans to sell a range of its award-winning products in Officeworks' 104 stores across Australia.

Dell will apply aspects of its “direct” business model in Officeworks’ stores. Shoppers will be able to try Dell’s products before making their purchase. They will have the option of configuring and ordering a custom product online that meets their exact specifications, or buying a Dell laptop or desktop with standard configurations in the store. Products available in the stores include the award-winning XPS M1330 laptop, the Inspiron line of laptops and desktops, and selected printers, ink and flat-panel displays. Officeworks consultants are trained to assist with selection of product and completing either purchasing process.

“Today’s announcement gives customers the option to call, click or visit and have access to Dell’s award-winning products in Australia,” Said Evan Williams, general manager Consumer Sales and Marketing South Asia Dell Inc. “While we continue to see growth in our online business in Australia, we recognize some people want to touch and feel our products, first. Our partnership with Officeworks will enable them to do this before buying a computer that meets their specifications.”

David Oakley, general manager Marketing and Merchandising for Officeworks said, “Dell’s selection of Officeworks as a major retail partner in Australia shows we are building on our strong position as a destination for IT solutions. The addition of Dell’s products reinforces our commitment to deliver customers the widest range of products at the lowest prices. Our stores will not only stock 10 Dell computers not available elsewhere in Australia, but will also have the capability to order tailored solutions for customers within the store.”

The partnership with Officeworks is Dell’s latest retail distribution agreement aimed at reaching more customers worldwide. Dell products will soon be available in more than 12,000 stores and online around the world. Dell has announced relationships with Croma stores in India; Best Buy in the United States and Canada; Carrefour in Europe; Staples in the U.S. and Canada; Courts in Singapore; Bic Camera in Japan; Carphone Warehouse, Tesco and DSGi in the United Kingdom; Wal-Mart in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina; and Gome, Suning, Hontu and several PC chain retailers in China.

Dell Australia will continue to operate its 13 kiosks located in shopping malls in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

Dell OEM CR100 Server Enables Appliance Vendors to Simplify IT for Customers

Dell today announced the OEM CR100 Server, providing appliance vendors with a customizable, entry-level 1u platform that delivers the high standards of quality and product stability of Dell’s PowerEdge technology.

• Complements Dell’s End-to-End Appliance program
• Priced to OEM customer requirements
• Available to U.S. customers only

The CR100 is part of Dell OEM’s End-to-End Appliance Program, which provides appliance vendors the ability to customize their solution on Dell hardware while also simplifying the operational details related to product development, logistics, and end-user support. Dell’s OEM Industry Solutions Group designs and manufactures customized appliance products, services and support to appliance vendors and OEMs who want a total appliance solution without having to invest in hardware development.

“Appliance servers are proving to be cost-effective solutions, particularly for applications such as security, search, video streaming, storage, networking and others,” said Kenneth Cayton, research manager for IDC’s Enterprise Platform Group.

Cayton adds that a “robust set of products and knowledge positions Dell to be a very capable partner for appliance vendors looking for a partner in developing an appliance solution.”

The CR100 gives customers a rapidly deployable appliance designed to provide reliable performance, lower total cost of ownership and reduced qualification time due to its secure, stable technology. Built with PowerEdge R200 technology, it gives OEM appliance vendors a short-depth 1u form factor in multiple configurations and a brand-customizable, appliance-specific design with a two-year lifecycle.

“We developed the customizable OEM CR100 server to enable appliance vendors to serve niche markets with their own branded appliance,” said Rick Froehlich, vice president and general manager of Dell’s OEM Division. “Large customers, like McAfee and Secure Computing, and smaller customers, like Connectbeam, can benefit from the quality, stability and support the CR100 offers.”

“Secure Computing is about superior safety, price performance and customer support. When customers buy from us, they expect the best. The Dell OEM division provided the hardware plus global support and services infrastructure to help us deliver the world's most secure, next generation network and application firewall. And the CR100 server will help us to further accelerate our lead in the Web gateway and messaging gateway security markets,” said Ken Rutsky, Secure Computing’s vice president of Product Marketing.

Dell’s OEM CR100 is available exclusively to OEM customers in the US (with Canada and Latin America to follow) and is priced according to customers’ unique needs and custom requirements.

Dell EqualLogic PS Series Storage Offers Application-Aware Snapshots for Microsoft Exchange

• In a move that further enhances the Dell EqualLogic PS5000 Series as the midrange SAN of choice for Microsoft Exchange Server, Dell is announcing Auto-Snapshot Manager Smart Copy for Exchange as the latest in a series of “application-aware” snapshot, cloning and data replication capabilities. This application awareness can simplify how IT application specialists can work with PS Series SANs to help improve data protection, disaster recovery and testing-and-development procedures. Smart Copy enhances the PS Series’ host integration capabilities to help reduce the amount of time IT administrators spend managing and protecting Windows -based business applications. In the case of Exchange, Smart Copy allows administrators to easily automate data validation checks and quickly recover from data loss or corruption. The first Smart Copy feature was announced for Microsoft SQL Server in July 2007, furthering the Dell EqualLogic product line’s integration with Microsoft environments and helping to improve the speed and reliability of database and file recovery operations.
• “The Smart Copy feature set is yet another way the PS Series is simplifying storage and enhancing Dell’s overall vision of simplifying IT,” said Kevin Wittmer, senior manager, product marketing, for Dell EqualLogic storage solutions. “Evolving Smart Copy to include Exchange data protection and recovery is part of our initiative to make PS Series storage more application aware. This can empower application administrators by putting sophisticated data management and protection features at their fingertips – at no additional cost – in a safe and easy to-use package.”
• Smart Copy for Exchange will be available in May at no extra cost with all new purchases of Dell EqualLogic PS5000 Series iSCSI SAN storage arrays and for all existing PS Series customers under warranty or with a current support agreement.

Dell Thinks Pink!

Just in time for Spring, Dell XPS M1530 and M1330 laptops Dell XPS M1530 and M1330 laptops are now available in pink! The performance-driven laptop line has now softened its image and sharpened its fashion sense with the addition of the bright and stylish color pink.

Since their unveiling last year, the XPS M1330 and M1530 have been very popular, receiving accolades from customers, industry influencers, and reviewers for their innovation in design and style. In fact, the XPS M1330 received 37 industry awards last year.

“It was an easy decision for us to add pink as an option to the XPS M1330, and M1530 since pink is the second most popular color for our Inspiron laptops” said Michael Tatelman, vice president of Dell’s global consumer business. “While customers appreciate the sleek, no-nonsense XPS look, they also wanted a wider variety in color options. We think they are going to love it.”

Identified by Pantone as one of the Top 10 Fashion Colors for Spring 2008, pink is one of the new shades for the season. It was all over the 2008 Fashion Week runway shows and is expected to be a shade that women and celebrities will be draping themselves in all year.

“Pinks are as popular with technology products as they are with clothing this spring,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Now-a-days, consumers are using and carrying colorful laptops and technology products as a way to express themselves.”

Dell has been a leader in personalization through colors, materials, and finishes and there is growing recognition that laptops and gadgets are a perfect way to express yourself with fun colors. In addition to Flamingo Pink, the XPS M1330 and M1530 laptops are also available in Midnight Blue, Tuxedo Black, and PRODUCT (RED) . Dell also offers eight color choices and four patterns on the Inspiron laptop line .

The XPS M1330 and M1530 feature sleek award-winning designs with many multimedia features including: Dell MediaDirect technology, which provides one button instant access to media files, even if the system is powered off or in hibernate; high-definition displays; Windows Media Center; optional travel remote control (IR) that slips into the ExpressCard slot, and optional Creative noise-isolation earphones for a great movie watching experience. Both laptops are the perfect blend of performance and portability.

Dell Completes MessageOne Acquisition

Dell today announced the completion of its $155 million acquisition of MessageOne, Inc., an industry leader in Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) enabled enterprise-class e-mail business continuity, compliance, archiving and disaster recovery services. The acquisition is a part of the company’s strategy to use SaaS applications and remote management tools to deliver configure-to-order IT infrastructure services to commercial customers over the Internet.

With its acquisition of SilverBack Technologies, Inc., Everdream Corp., ASAP Software Express, Inc. and now MessageOne, Dell is architecting an integrated service delivery platform of SaaS applications that will enable it to remotely monitor, maintain, troubleshoot and address the majority of routine IT infrastructure issues that challenge businesses of all sizes. The company anticipates that services such as patch management, anti-virus, online backup and recovery, asset tracking, software license management and e-mail continuity delivered and managed over the Internet will reduce the cost of infrastructure management and free budget for the IT driven innovation that grows business.

“Companies currently spend 70 percent of their IT budgets maintaining their current infrastructures and dealing with routine issues,” said Steve Schuckenbrock, president, Dell Global Services. “We are building a services supply chain that integrates the world’s leading SaaS-based technologies to simplify the purchase, delivery and management of IT infrastructure services for companies and improve its price/performance.”

In a departure from traditional industry approaches that lock customers into long-term, expensive contracts, Dell’s model will give companies choice and flexibility in the services they purchase.

MessageOne is an important addition to Dell’s services portfolio. The company’s services eliminate the downtime and complexity associated with managing, archiving, e-discovery and the long-term storage of e-mail. MessageOne estimates that 75 percent of all companies experience a major e-mail outage each year and with 75 percent of most companies’ intellectual property (IP) contained in messages and attachments transmitted via e-mail, it is now considered a “killer” application with importance to every aspect of business operations and customer relationships.

Dell’s MessageOne solutions include E-mail Management Services (EMS), which ensure seamless continuity by keeping Outlook and wireless messaging systems running even when Exchange and Active Directory are down and AlertFind, which provides emergency notification and crisis communication services for businesses. MessageOne’s e-mail archiving services help companies comply with regulations, streamline electronic discovery and maximize storage. MessageOne’s services are available today to companies with more than 1,000 seats through Dell’s sales force and will be available to medium businesses and through Dell channel partners in the future.

Regeneration Community Overwhelmingly Answers Dell’s Green Computing Design Challenge

Dell today announced the top five finalists in its International Green Computing Technology Design Competition, a contest that resulted in the participation of more than 500 design students and professionals from across the globe. The company also invited members of the ReGeneration community to vote for their favorite graffiti art submitted through the Facebook-Graffiti competition.

• “The passion, creativity and ingenuity of the global green design community are inspiring and real,” said Ken Musgrave, director of Dell’s Experience Design Group. “The entries in both competitions represent an important step forward in getting people to adopt new and green technologies, as well as inspire thinking on what we can all do to protect the planet. This is a challenge that warrants a conversation, not a one-way dialogue.”
• The judging in the green computing technology design competition occurred in Austin, Texas, on April 12. Members of the jury included Gadi Amit, principal designer and founder of New Deal Design; Martin Charter, director of The Centre for Sustainable Design at University College for the Creative Arts (UCCA); Andrew Dent, PhD, vice president of Library and Materials Research at the Material ConneXion Inc; Jeremy Faludi, product designer and researcher; Mark Newton, environmental policy manager at Dell; and Louise St. Pierre, associated professor of Industrial Design at the Emily Carr Institute.
• The competition’s overall winner, to be chosen by a popular vote to be held at ReGeneration, will receive an additional $15,000 prize. If the popular vote winner is a student, his or her university if registered is eligible for a matching $15,000 prize. Educators who registered also will receive a $2,000 award. The finalists’ names and locations will be released after the community has had an opportunity to vote on the designs.
• The Facebook-Graffiti competition generated more than 4,500 illustrative and text entries, which are being featured as part of an online showcase highlighting different perspectives on ‘green,’ as well as featured in promotional vehicles inviting the community to take action. The best overall artwork and best text submission, one selected by Graffiti and the other selected by ReGeneration, will receive Green Dell Inspiron laptops.
• The ReGeneration is a group of people of all ages who care about the environment. More than 130,000 people from across the globe have already signed up to help save the planet.

Michael Dell: Green IT Key to Achieving a Low-Carbon Economy

Green information technology (IT) can be one of the world’s strongest assets in achieving and sustaining a prosperous, low-carbon economy, Dell Chairman and CEO Michael Dell told attendees gathered at today’s FORTUNE Brainstorm: GREEN.

• Dell Chairman and CEO Addresses FORTUNE Brainstorm: GREEN
• Previews Company’s Smallest and Most Environmentally-Responsible Consumer Desktop PC

“Ten years from now, we will look back and credit ‘green’ IT for helping to mitigate the effects posed by climate change, strengthen global industries and chart a new and prosperous low-carbon economy,” said Mr. Dell. “It’s a historic opportunity that we must act on now.”

Mr. Dell spoke at the magazine’s first-ever event dedicated to ‘green’ topics and trends, part of the 39th annual Earth Day festivities taking place around the world. At the event, Mr. Dell previewed the company’s smallest and most environmentally-responsible consumer desktop PC. Scheduled to be released later this year, the computer is approximately 81 percent smaller than a standard mini-tower desktop, uses up to 70 percent less energy and comes in recycled and recyclable packaging. Since 2005, the company’s client desktop systems alone have helped customers save more than $2.2 billion and avoid approximately 22.4 million tons of CO2.

A recent study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) found that information technology is already providing the U.S. economy energy savings. According to the study, for every one kilowatt-hour of electricity used by IT, ten kilowatt-hours of electricity are saved. This includes IT-enabled benefits such as virtualization, energy-efficient computing, telecommuting and online transactions.

“Connecting with customers, employees and suppliers means understanding and sharing their commitment to green ideas and innovation,” said Mr. Dell. “Today, I’m extending my challenge to every technology company to make the environment both a business priority and daily conversation, from energy efficiency and environmentally-responsible products, to carbon neutrality and free recycling for consumers.”

Dell’s Commitment to the ReGeneration

On World Environment Day 2007, Dell announced it would partner with the ReGeneration – people of all ages who care about the environment – to become the “greenest” technology company on the planet. The company has since pledged to become the first in its industry to neutralize the carbon impact of worldwide operations by the end of 2008.

“We are on track to achieve that goal,” added Mr. Dell.

Today, Dell also announced plans to convene a formal ReGeneration Advisory Group to advise and guide the movement. The group will include Alexandra Cousteau, president of EarthEcho International and granddaughter of marine biologist Jacques Cousteau; Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for the Rolling Stones and avid tree farmer and conservationist; and Laura Turner Seydel, eco-living expert and chairman of the Captain Planet Foundation. Dell also will expand the group by extending invitations to other stakeholders and environmental advocates.

The company today also announced five finalists in its International Green Computing Technology Design Competition.

Environmental LeadershipEarlier this month, Dell announced that its corporate headquarters campus is powered with 100 percent ‘green’ energy. The company’s carbon intensity (CO2 emissions/revenue) is among the lowest of the Fortune 50 and less than half that of its closest competitor.

Dell enables its customers to offset the carbon impact of the electricity required to power their computer equipment through the company’s “Plant a Tree for Me” program. The company recently announced that it is matching consumer and small and medium business contributions of $2 made during laptop purchases and $6 made during desktop purchases in celebration of Earth Day.

In September 2007, Dell announced “Plant a Forest for Me,” a program that enables organizations worldwide to share best practices and, as partners, facilitate the planting of trees in sustainably managed reforestation projects. Partners include AMD, ABN AMRO, Ask.com, CGI, Staples, Salesforce.com, Targus and WellPoint.

Dell also offers the industry’s only free recycling program for consumers. In 2006, the company recycled more than 78 million pounds of computer equipment worldwide, a 93 percent increase over 2005. This put Dell ahead of schedule in achieving a goal of recycling 275 million pounds of equipment by 2009.

Dell’s New Premium Support and Integration Services Build on Existing Tools and Improvements for Consumers

To further enhance a great customer experience, Dell today announced forthcoming expansion of its consumer services offerings aimed at delighting customers and helping them get more out of their digital lifestyle.

• Dedicated Tech Teams Work One-on-One with Customers in North America
• Beyond-the-Box Retail Services Focus On Digital Lifestyle in the Home
• Customer Satisfaction Continues to Rise

Dell’s new premium support service is to provide a dedicated team of technical professionals which customers can contact directly for support of any Dell-branded product. This new fee-based offering is designed specifically for those customers who want to engage with the same dedicated team each time they have an issue with any of their in-warranty Dell-branded products.

The premium service offer provides household support by an advanced support team in North America for one year. The technicians are empowered to address a comprehensive range of issues across the breadth of Dell’s product line.

“Our commitment to a great customer experience has never been stronger,” said Ray Roman, vice president Dell global consumer services and support. . “This premium service is all about making the tech support experience more personal; users who want high-touch support can now receive it. We’re excited to bring them to the market.”

The premium service experience resulted in a more than 90 percent customer satisfaction from the 20,000 Dell XPS customers in New York City who piloted it.

“Dell has risen way beyond any computer manufacturer,” said Josh Schleifer. “The real-time knowledgeable and caring assistance offered by the pilot program is light years ahead from any other service I have ever received. It is invaluable”.

Retail Services

In addition to the Premium services, Dell is also planning to provide new services for customers who buy Dell products through retail. Those services, available on Dell and other-branded systems, include home television installation, home theater set-up, technology integration, and other services that can help customers build out their digital lifestyle infrastructure.

“Our goal is to simplify the consumer electronic experience and help customers get more from their digital experience in a way that’s convenient, meaningful and affordable,” said Roman.

These services, available in the coming weeks, complement existing tools that have helped customers with their PC purchases in recent years. Dell's unique remote diagnostic software program called “Dell Connect” has helped over 5 million customers globally. DataSafe and PC Transfer help customers protect their photos, music and stored content as well as transfer files easily when purchasing new Dell products.

With these and other improvements, Dell has improved customer satisfaction scores by nearly 15 percent in the past seven quarters.

“Dell realizes the importance of customer service and remains committed to improving processes and products every day to exceed customers’ expectations,” said Roman.

Dell Kicks Off Earth Day Early

Starting tomorrow, Dell customers and members of the ReGeneration can celebrate Earth Day a little early. For one week, Dell will match contributions to "Plant a Tree for Me", a Dell program that enables customers to offset the carbon impact of the electricity required to power the systems over their useful life.

During the Earth Day campaign, Dell will match consumer contributions of $2 to help offset carbon impact from a laptop purchase and $6 to help offset carbon impact from a desktop purchase. The company is also matching contributions from small and medium business customers when they purchase business laptops, desktops and servers during the month of April.

“Through ‘Plant a Tree for Me,’ we are providing customers a simple but tangible way to make a difference for the planet,” said Michael Tatelman, vice president of Dell's consumer business. “We cannot think of a better occasion to partner with our customers and give back to the Earth we all share.”

Dell gives 100 percent of these contributions to The Conservation Fund and the Carbonfund, non-profit organizations that plant trees in sustainably managed reforestation projects. "Dell led the industry in its direct-to- consumer approach, set the bar in product recycling, and now, through programs like ‘Plant a Tree for Me’, is leading the industry to address two of our world's most pressing environmental challenges — habitat loss and climate change," said The Conservation Fund's president, Larry Selzer.

CarbonFund estimates that customer contributions to “Plant a Tree for Me” in 2007 will result over time in the removal of approximately 150 million pounds of CO2, the equivalent of offsetting the carbon impact of the electricity required to power more than 225,000 laptops.

Dell customers in the United States can also realize instant savings on the InspironTM 531 Energy Star desktop on Earth Day, April 22. Based on the award-winning Inspiron 531, the Energy Star desktop is up to 46 percent more efficient than a standard PC and it has power management settings enabled to reduce CO2 emissions.

Dell is committed to becoming the "greenest" technology company on the planet. The company offers the technology industry’s only global, free recycling program for consumers, has pledged to become the first carbon-neutral computer company and is engaging customers across the globe in its environmental initiatives.

Energy efficiency: Energy Savings and CO2 estimates based on EPA power savings calculator data and Dell internal testing assuming an annual Energy Star Inspiron usage profile of 201 hours in active mode, 602 hours in idle mode, 1,104 hours in sleep mode and 6,854 hours in off mode.

Dell Continues to Expand Retail Presence in China

Broadening its presence in China’s consumer electronics market, Dell announced plans today to sell laptop and desktop computers in Suning stores and to expand its relationship with Gome, the No.1 consumer electronics retailer in China. Additionally, Dell will sell systems in Hontu stores and through several PC chain retailers including Wuxing, Meicheng, Heng Chang and Heyong stores, making many of Dell’s award-winning products accessible in China’s major urban areas.

• Suning Added as Major Retail Partner
• Relationship with Gome Extended
• Other PC Chain Retailers Selling Dell Products

Beginning this month, the number of Gome stores in which customers can buy Dell products is doubling to nearly 900. Also, Suning customers will initially be able to buy a range of Dell laptops and desktops in more than 300 stores with that number increasing in the future. In Suning, customers will be able to select from the popular Dell XPS M1330, the XPS M1530, Inspiron 1420 and 1526 laptops and Inspiron 530s and 531s desktops in addition to displays, printers and toner.

Dell products available at Gome will include the 13.3 inch XPSTM M1330 laptop, InspironTM 1525 and 1420 laptops, the XPS One all-in-one desktop, XPS 720 performance desktop and the Inspiron 530 desktop.

This expansion means even more people can call, click or visit to learn more about and buy Dell’s leading products.

“The China consumer electronics market continues to see exciting growth,” said Michael Tatelman, Vice President and GM Sales and Marketing for Dell's consumer business. “It is great to see the Dell brand associated with the top retail brands in China giving access to our products to a wider audience of Chinese consumers.”

Dell products will soon be available in more than 12,000 stores and online around the world. In the past several months, Dell has announced relationships with Croma stores in India; Best Buy in the United States and Canada; Carrefour in Europe; Staples in the U.S. and Canada; Courts in Singapore; Bic Camera in Japan; Carphone Warehouse, Tesco and DSGi in the United Kingdom; and Wal-Mart in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.

Dell, EPA To Host Earth Day Computer Recycling Drive

Dell, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), TechTurn and the National Recycling Coalition will host an Earth Day computer recycling event for consumers in the Washington metropolitan area.

• The free event, to be held at Freedom Plaza downtown, is part of Dell’s ongoing commitment to educating consumers about responsible computer recycling options and keeping IT equipment out of landfills.
• Consumers can drive to the event and volunteers will unload equipment for recycling. Cars should enter from 13th Street, turning on to E Street.
• Washington, D.C. area residents can recycle any brand computer, monitor, printer and other computer equipment as well as cell phones and PDAs by dropping the items off at the event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Consumers are advised to remove all data from computer hard drives and any removable media such as disks, PC cards, flash drives, CD-ROMs. Televisions, stereo equipment and other electronic appliances cannot be accepted.
• Dell completed a rollout of its global recycling program in December 2006 and offers consumers free and convenient recycling of Dell products, worldwide irrespective of product purchase. The company recovered more than 78 million pounds of equipment from customers for recycling in 2006.

"We cannot think of a better day or more appropriate place to partner with consumers and stakeholders to make a difference for the environment," said Jim Duffey, vice president and general manager, Public Business Group, Dell. "Through public-private partnerships and initiatives, we are sending a clear message that no computer should go to waste."

"This event provides D.C.-area residents an easy opportunity to recycle unwanted computers and help protect the environment," said Molly O’Neill, EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Environmental Information and Chief Information Officer. "We are excited to work with organizations that are showing a strong commitment to corporate citizenship and setting an example for other businesses to follow."

"TechTurn has long been a proponent of delivering value from unwanted electronics through refurbishing the equipment and returning the devices to the market," said Jeff Zeigler, CEO of TechTurn. "This method ensures the least negative impact on the environment, keeps electronics out of landfills and provides a responsible outlet for affordable technology."

"Dell continues to be the leader in providing free e-cycling opportunities for Americans," said Kate Krebs, executive director of the National Recycling Coalition. "As we celebrate Earth Day, Americans will be looking for opportunities to show they care for the environment. This great event will be the perfect way to recycle old computers and do something good for the earth."

Town of North Kingstown Goes Green With Dell

The town of North Kingstown, R.I., is using Dell’s Energy Smart line of servers and desktops to help simplify IT by reducing energy consumption and meeting constituent demands for a more environmentally-conscious town government.

As part of a three-year project, the town is implementing a variety of Energy Smart solutions, including Dell OptiPlexTM 320 PCs and Dell PowerEdgeTM 860, PowerEdge 1950 and PowerEdge 2950 servers.

North Kingstown will be joining Dell’s “Plant a Forest For Me” program, a global carbon-neutral initiative that plants trees for customers to help offset the carbon impact of electricity required to power their systems.

Using Dell’s Energy Calculator, IT managers determined the town could save more than $21,000 per year by implementing Energy Smart servers and desktops across the local government. As a result, North Kingstown officials will be able to dedicate additional resources to strategic initiatives that support the town’s 26,000 residents.

Dell’s Energy Smart line of servers, desktops and notebooks are designed to provide the maximum performance at the least amount of power required, bringing together efficient technologies designed to exceed Energy Star 4.0. Select Energy Smart PC models also meet the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) Gold requirements. Pre-configured power management settings and tools simplify the deployment of Dell’s Energy Smart offerings, making them cost-effective for organizations of all sizes.

“For years, town planners and North Kingstown’s constituents have worked together to address community concerns and issues by implementing the most effective and environmentally-friendly technologies,” said Jason Albuquerque, IT director for the town of North Kingstown. “With Dell as our partner, the town of North Kingstown is committed to deploying technology that decreases energy consumption and reduces the town’s carbon footprint. Our investment promises energy and cost savings over the life of the equipment, as well as the peace of mind that we’re better managing our collective resources.”

"In our effort to help lead the ReGeneration and become the world’s most environmentally-conscious technology company, Dell is committed to making it easier for customers to simplify IT by more effectively deploying and supporting tomorrow’s energy-efficient solutions,” said Mark Horan, vice president, Dell Public Accounts. “From the desktop to the data center, our relationship with the town of North Kingstown has shown the positive effect energy-efficient technologies can have on an organization’s IT environment and operations.”

Small Business Customer Feedback Drives Dell Vostro Laptop Redesign

Dell today announced its redesigned Vostro laptop line for small businesses, including the new 13.3-inch Vostro 1310 starting at $749 and 15.4-inch Vostro 1510 starting at $599. Products are available today in Europe, Middle East and Africa, followed by North and South America May 1, and Asia Pacific and Japan May 5. The company will also offer a redesigned 17-inch Vostro 1710 laptop in mid May.

• Major step in expanding entire laptop portfolio by 50 percent in 2008


• Thinner, lighter form factors

“Listening to customers and acting quickly on their feedback to improve our products and services sets Dell apart,” said Frank Muehleman, vice president and general manager, Dell Small and Medium Business. “For example, customers told us in a recent global laptop study that data protection and pre-installed security software are, by far, the most important security features.

“They also said they wanted thinner and lighter machines, all at a good price,” Muehleman said. “We paid attention.”

The new Vostro laptops deliver the following customer-driven features:

• A sleek design, with slot load optical drive, that is thinner and lighter than previous generation Vostro laptops;
• The display screen of the new Vostro 13.3-inch has 94 percent the viewing area of a 14.1-inch model, yet weighs nearly 20 percent less;
• Continuation of Dell’s 30-day worry-free return policy;
• Available with no trial ware and free services including 10GB of Dell DataSafe Online Backup, Network Assistant and PC TuneUp; and
• Vostro 1310 and 1510 laptops offer more security features than comparable competitive products¹ with integrated fingerprint readers, Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2 helping prevent unauthorized network access and data theft, cable lock slot, and Dell-exclusive, factory-installed McAfee Total Protection for Small Business security software.

Small businesses are increasingly adopting laptops over desktop PCs. Today, half of PC-owning small businesses in the United States own laptops, and the number is expected to grow to almost 57 percent by 2012, with similar laptop penetration in Western Europe and Japan.

To address this shift and provide more choice to customers, Dell plans to expand its laptop portfolio by 50 percent this year, to deliver the broadest product lineup in the company’s history.

“After experiencing the productivity gains of the Dell Vostro 1510 compared to our older systems, I knew it was time to act on our dream to upgrade our IT network,” said Cynthia Ebrom, founder and owner of Edinburg, Texas-based Cynthia’s Cakes. “As our custom cake business expands nationally, technology becomes even more important to our growth and ability to better serve our customers. Vostro gives us the reliability, performance, service and support we need without exceeding our tight budget.”

In addition to investments in its laptop portfolio, Dell is expanding its services, server and storage offerings to meet the unique needs small and medium businesses.

• Dell’s new services portfolio, ProSupport, gives customers the ability to customize and tailor services to fit their technical expertise and business needs.
• Dell’s new PowerEdge R300 and T300 servers have industry-leading performance, memory and high-availability features so small and medium businesses no longer have to sacrifice server performance or reliability for an affordable price.
• Through affordable iSCSI storage area network (SAN) solutions like the PowerVault MD3000i and Dell EqualLogic PS5000 Series, Dell is simplifying storage for businesses of all sizes.

Dell PowerEdge Server Performance Accelerates With Quad-Core AMD Opteron Processors

Dell PowerEdge servers have taken performance to new levels with the launch of Quad-core AMD Opteron processors. The PowerEdge SC1435, 2970, M605 and 6950 platforms now offer AMD’s new quad-core processors, supporting Dell’s strategy to drive more complete and cost-effective enterprise technologies across various customer environments.

Dell provides customers who use these PowerEdge platforms with investment protection and long term server value by offering a simple and seamless upgrade path to the new Quad-Core AMD Opteron processor.

Equipped with Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors, Dell’s two-socket servers including the PowerEdge SC1435, 2970 and M605 can deliver up to 79 percent better performance compared to the same servers operating with dual-core AMD Opteron.

Dell today expanded its PowerEdge server line with the addition of its new T605 tower server. Equipped with Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors, the PowerEdge T605 achieves up to 23 percent better performance than the HP ProLiant ML350 G5. The T605 is ideal for small and medium businesses or remote locations and offers high-availability features such as redundant power supplies, hot plug hard drives, and remote management features to help increase uptime and prevent loss of data access.

“Our PowerEdge servers deliver on Dell’s commitment to simplify IT by providing customers with a seamless and simple upgrade path to quad-core, making it easier and quicker for them to realize the benefits of these advanced processors,” said Sally Stevens, Director of PowerEdge Servers, Dell Product Group. “Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors running on Dell PowerEdge servers delivers the right balance of performance, energy efficiency and price for customers while helping to accelerate our vision of scale-out computing in the enterprise.”