IBM eServer p690 is Industry`s Top-Selling High-end UNIX Computer System,
Out-Shipping HP and Sun
ARMONK, N.Y., December 19, 2003 -- IBM today announced that ShopNBC, one of
the nation`s largest home shopping networks, has selected IBM to help it
respond to seasonal sales demand in its core businesses. The company will
use powerful IBM eServer p690 systems to process tens of thousands of orders
this holiday season from customers ordering merchandise from its home
shopping channel ShopNBC and its online Website - ShopNBC.com.
As part of the multi-year agreement with ShopNBC, the IBM eServer p690
systems will act as the foundation for the company`s growing datacenter,
which manages its most mission critical e-commerce and in-store retail
applications.
"We have been a long-time IBM UNIX customer, relying on powerful IBM eServer
technology to help meet the needs of our growing business," said Steve
Danker, CIO, ShopNBC. "When it came time for us to upgrade our
infrastructure, we wanted reliable and scalable systems that would respond
to seasonal increases in computing power and allow for enterprise growth.
The IBM eServer p690 systems deliver superior reliability, scalability and
speed to our online and brick-and-mortar retail stores, allowing our
employees fast and convenient access to our supply chain and ensuring
products are on the shelves for our valued customers."
The ultra-powerful IBM eServer p690 systems will fuel a fast-growing
business. Shop NBC is one of the nation`s fastest growing shopping networks
and the third largest overall. ShopNBC TV broadcasts into more than 53
million households via cable and satellite. ShopNBC.com-with ShopNBC TV
simulcasts and a wide array of merchandise for sale, is available to anyone
with an Internet connection.
Today`s announcement also marks a milestone in the computer marketplace. The
IBM eServer p690 is now the industry`s most popular high-end UNIX server.
According to independent research firm IDC, over the last eight quarters,
IBM has shipped more high-end eServer p690 systems than either HP`s high-end
Superdome UNIX systems or Sun`s high-end UNIX systems (1).
"Since we first introduced the p690 about two years ago, we have continued
to demonstrate to our customers that if they want to run AIX or Linux along
with their key business applications, the p690 gives them the rock-solid
security, reliability and availability they look for in a UNIX server."
said Adalio Sanchez, general manager for IBM pSeries Systems. "The demand
for p690s are a testament to the strength of the eServer system and our UNIX
platform overall. It`s why smart businesses like ShopNBC are turning to IBM
for the flexible infrastructure required in today`s on demand world."
Award-Winning Performance
The IBM eServer p690 is one of the most decorated UNIX servers in the
history of performance benchmarks. Among the performance marks currently
held by the p690:
- SPECweb99 -- IBM p690 has the top result in the industry for two years
running and beats HP by 40% (2)
- SAP SD 3-Tier -- IBM p690 is #1 (3)
- SPECompM2001 -- IBM p690 has the top 32-way result in the industry (4)
The IBM eServer p690 system offers outstanding performance to customers. It
is the first pSeries server to integrate industry-leading POWER4
microprocessors, state of the art processor technology, and the first-ever
"server on a chip." The IBM eServer p690 system delivers outstanding
performance while delivering world-class reliability features and saving
electricity, maintenance, operating and administrative costs. The p690 is
also equipped with the ability to run AIX and Linux simultaneously on a
single server, and the capability to add, remove, or deploy system resources
through logical partitioning.
About IBM
IBM is the world`s largest information technology company, with 80 years of
leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from across
IBM and key Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services,
solutions and technologies that enable customers, large and small, to take
full advantage of the new era of e-business. For more information about IBM,
visit www.ibm.com.
(1) All information according to IDC quarterly tracking of UNIX units
shipped. Over the last eight quarters, the IBM eServer p690 has shipped
3,498 total units during that time. Over the last eight quarters, the HP
Superdome has shipped 3,136 units. Over the last eight quarters, the
SunFire 15K has shipped 1,545 total while the SunFire 12K has shipped 704
units during that time. IDC 3Q`03 Quarterly Tracker, Units Shipped.
(2) A 16-way p690 running AIX 5L v5.2; SPECweb99 result of 21,000
simultaneous connections published November, 2001. 16-way HP rp8400 running
HP-UX; SPECweb99 result of 15,000 simultaneous connections published
October, 2001.
(3) A 32-way p690 running AIX 5L v5.2; SAP SD 3-tier 4.6C result of 47,528
users, 1.88 second average dialog response time, 4,799,330 fully processed
order line items / hour published October 2002.
(4) 32-way p690 running AIX 5L v5.2; SPECompM2001 peak result of 38,447
published October 2003.
Additional Footnotes:
This data is current as of December 4, 2003.
For further SPEC-related information, please see www.spec.org.
SPECweb99, SPECsfs97_R1, and SPECompM2001 are trademarks of the Standard
Performance Evaluation Corporation.
For further SAP-related information, please see http://www.sap.com
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ACCORDING TO IDC
In 3Q`01, IBM`s overall UNIX market share was 21.1%
In 3Q`01, HP`s overall UNIX market share was 35.7%
In 3Q`01, Sun`s overall UNIX market share was 28.6%
In 4Q`01, IBM started shipping the very first UNIX servers based on POWER4 technology, the p690
TWO YEARS LATER
As of 3Q`03, IBM`s overall UNIX market share is 25.6% (gaining 4.5% of the
UNIX market over the past two years/eight quarters
As of 3Q`03, HP`s overall UNIX market share is 33.8% (losing 1.9% of the
UNIX market over the past two years/eight quarters
As of 3Q`03, Sun`s overall UNIX market share is 28.4% (losing .2% of the
UNIX market over the past two years/eight quarters
In 4Q`03, IBM celebrates the two year anniversary of shipping the very first
UNIX server based on POWER4 technology, the p690
About ShopNBC
ShopNBC is the nation`s third largest home shopping network and the flagship
media property of ValueVision Media (Nasdaq: VVTV), which operates in the
converged world of television, the Internet, and e-commerce. The live home
shopping industry, the majority of ValueVision`s business, is $7 billion and
growing at a double digit rate annually while the attendant e-commerce space
is many times that size and also growing substantially. Fiscal 2002 sales
for ShopNBC were $555 million. At the close of fiscal second quarter 2003,
ShopNBC was broadcast into nearly 60 million cable and satellite homes.
ValueVision Media also operates ShopNBC.com, which contributed $94 million
in sales in fiscal 2002. The Company has been publicly traded since 1991 and
trades on Nasdaq. GE Equity and NBC own approximately 40% of ValueVision
Media.
Analysts
Gordon Haff
Illuminata
ghaff@illuminata.com
Charles King
Sageza
650.390.0700 x253
510-909-0750 (cell)
charles@sageza.com
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