Alpha RetainTrust Program provides long-term business continuity


DUBAI, UAE,August 5, 2003. HP (NYSE:HPQ) announced that it is now shipping its high-end AlphaServer GS1280 systems with 32 Alpha processors, continuing to execute on its committed roadmap for server customers.

The HP AlphaServer GS1280 systems, based on the latest EV7 Alpha processor technology, provide customers with a powerful combination of performance, scalability, reliability, manageability and availability features.

“Our AlphaServer roadmap is right on schedule, and we are delivering to customers the foundation for a long-term future with HP,” said Samer Karawi, Business Critical Systems, HP UAE, Gulf & Levant. “Our new AlphaServer systems offer powerful performance for the foreseeable future and, when customers are ready, we will help them evolve to Itanium® processor-based HP Integrity servers through the Alpha Retain Trust Programme.” 
 
Since the introduction of the EV7-based AlphaServer family in January, HP has delivered support for system partitions, instant capacity on demand (iCOD), more flexible power and storage choices, and Linux availability on the AlphaServer ES47 and ES80 systems. New storage options include the HP StorageWorks Modular San Array 1000, Enterprise Virtual Array 5000 and DiskArray XP1024 solutions. These storage solutions also support HP Integrity servers, so that customers can easily transition storage support to future platforms.
 
Dr. Michael Levine, scientific director, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Centre, said, “we continue to be delighted by the decision we made to use AlphaServer technology. With their outstanding performance and reliability, the new AlphaServer systems are meeting all our expectations in support of the diverse scientific research we support.”
 
In addition to the GS1280 systems, the EV7 processor-based AlphaServer family includes the ES80 departmental server and the ES47 workgroup systems. AlphaServers run both the Tru64 UNIX and OpenVMS operating systems; Linux is available on the AlphaServer ES47 and ES80 systems.
 
HP also said that more powerful GS1280 systems ranging up to 64 Alpha processors are planned for later this year. AlphaServer systems based on enhanced EV79 Alpha processor technology are planned for introduction in 2004.
 
Alpha RetainTrust Programme
The HP Alpha RetainTrust program takes an unprecedented approach to satisfying customers’ needs for long-term capacity and growth by jointly planning and actively supporting their smooth evolution to new Itanium® architecture-based HP Integrity servers.  The program strengthens HP’s customer return on IT investment through comprehensive customer initiatives, excellent products, strong partner support, extensive service offerings, and compelling business practices.
 
Today, HP announces a full suite of utilities to assist in transitioning custom applications from Tru64 UNIX to HP-UX on HP Integrity servers, www.hp.com/go/tru64appmigration.  Tools are now available to determine source level compatibility, provide technical recommendations and resources for moving applications to HP-UX, and a new Migration Environment for making native HP-UX applications.
 
Along with these enhancements, HP has also strengthened the Alpha RetainTrust program by providing for free Tru64 UNIX and OpenVMS software license trade-ins when they move to HP Integrity Servers running HP-UX or OpenVMS.  Through Alpha RetainTrust workshops, HP works individually with its AlphaServer customers to develop custom plans for the evolution and growth of their IT environments.
 
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About HP
HP delivers vital technology for business and life. The company’s solutions span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing for consumers, enterprises and small and medium business. For the last four quarters, HP revenue totalled $70.4 billion. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.

About HP Middle East
HP is the largest IT company in the Middle East employing about 500 people in the region. HP has been present in the Middle East since 1968, and opened its first regional office in 1994 and has offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar, Cairo and Ramallah servicing the GCC, the Levant and Egypt. For more information about HP in the Middle East, please visit www.hp.com/me 
 
UNIX is a registered trademark of the Open Group. Itanium is a registered trademark of Intel Corp. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Oracle is a registered U.S. trademark of Oracle Corp., Redwood City, Calif.
 
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the possibility that the market for the sale of certain products and services may not develop as expected; that development and performance of these products and services may not proceed as planned; and other risks that are described from time to time in HP’s Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including but not limited to HP’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2002 and reports filed subsequent to HP’s annual report on Form 10-K, as amended on January 30, 2002, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2001. If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes or any of these assumptions proves incorrect, HP’s results could differ materially from HP’s expectations in these statements. HP assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

© Press Release 2003