By Dominic Maher, 16 May 2000 00:25
NEWS Compaq has launched its Alpha processor-based Wildfire range of high-end Unix servers, which it claims is aimed at speeding up online access - one of end users' biggest frustrations. The AlphaServer GS series, which originated from the PC giant's $9bn acquisition of Digital two years ago, will let customers add memory and increase processing power as and when needed. In addition, the servers will support multiple operating systems. According to Martin Hingley, vice president of the European systems group at IDC, the 64 bit Alpha processor is currently used by around 40 per cent of the UK telco market. However, he claimed Compaq's biggest challenge is now about overcoming its negative perception in the online marketplace. He told silicon.com: "The problem with Compaq has been the internal reorganisation, which has prevented it communicating a Web strategy during a period when everyone else was doing so. Therefore, Compaq couldn't go to market because its strategy was weak." Hingley added that although Compaq has been hamstrung by the negative press that surrounded the Digital acquisition as well as its controversial decision to cease development of Windows NT on Alpha, the company still commands a strong market position. Ian Bramley, director of enterprise platforms at the Butler Group, said that under the leadership of CEO Michael Capellas, Compaq will make its presence felt. He said: "It will take a while for Compaq to re-establish itself, but it seems to have got its act together and having just about integrated Digital into the company it's now ready to go on the offensive." However, he stressed that Compaq still has a long way to go before it catches leaders like IBM and Sun Microsystems in the high-end Unix server market. Compaq was unavailable for comment.
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