Thanks to Patrick
O’Rourke for this press announcement.
Support Includes Two-hour Response-time Commitment on
Multivendor Platforms
PALO ALTO, Calif., April 20, 1999 — Hewlett-Packard Company
today announced the availability of HP Linux support services,
which provide customers with around-the-clock, worldwide support of
Linux and HP Linux applications. HP’s new support services include
a maximum two-hour response-time commitment, and immediate response
for critical calls, on multivendor Intel-based platforms. HP is
mobilizing on all fronts to meet the anticipated strong demand for
Linux systems, software and services.
“Customers within many markets, such as communications and
e-commerce, depend on Linux to host business applications,” said
Mike Rigodanzo, general manager of HP’s Software Services Division.
“The major challenge for Linux in terms of mainstream acceptance is
that enterprises want to deal with technologies from suppliers they
can depend on for predictable levels of service and support. That’s
where HP comes in — we’re providing complete support, including
24×7, phone-in and electronic support worldwide for Linux.”
HP Linux support services are provided to HP’s business partners
and customers via HP’s Electronic Support Center and HP Response
Centers. This support model provides customers the flexibility of
the following support-service features:
- unlimited, toll-free, phone-in software assistance with
two-hour response-time commitment and immediate response for
critical calls; - electronic software call submittal with a choice of response
time frames; - remote software support by highly trained HP support
engineers; - 24×7 electronic access, via HP’s Electronic Support Center, to
a database of current product and support information from a
variety of vendors; and - Linux training for system administrators, such as Linux
Installation Configuration and Administration class, available in
HP’s Education Centers worldwide or at customer sites.
HP’s offering will support major Linux releases from companies
such as Red Hat Software, Caldera Systems, Pacific HiTech and SuSE
Holding AG, running on servers from HP and other vendors. HP has
extended its support to HP applications that run on Linux, such as
HP Firehunter. HP support also will be extended to cover future
platforms based on the IA-64 architecture, additional HP and
third-party Linux applications, Apache Web Server, and HP
outsourcing services for Linux environments.
“SAP’s initiative to deliver the leading enterprise application
SAP R/3 on Linux has been well received by our customers,” said
Thomas Klein, director, corporate alliance at SAP AG. “HP’s full
support program for Linux ensures that our customers who select HP
servers enjoy enterprise-level support and reliability for R/3 on
Linux.”
According to IDC Research, Linux is the fastest-growing server
operating environment. In 1998, some 690,000 Linux operating
environments were shipped, reflecting a 190 percent growth rate and
17 percent of all new server operating environments. HP is a
sponsoring corporate member of Linux International, a non-profit
organization consisting of industry influencers dedicated to the
continuous open-source development of Linux.
More information about today’s announcement can be found on the
World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com/go/support.
About HP
Hewlett-Packard Company — a leading global provider of computing
and imaging solutions and services for business and home — is
focused on capitalizing on the opportunities of the Internet and
the proliferation of electronic services. HP had computer-related
revenue of $39.5 billion in its 1998 fiscal year.
HP plans to launch a new and independent measurement company
consisting of its industry-leading test-and-measurement,
components, chemical-analysis and medical businesses. These
businesses represented $7.6 billion of HP’s total revenue in fiscal
1998. With leading positions in multiple market segments, this
technology-based company will focus on high-growth opportunities
such as communications and life sciences.
HP has 122,800 employees worldwide and had total revenue of
$47.1 billion in its 1998 fiscal year. Information about HP, its
products and the company’s Year 2000 program can be found on the
World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.