Gateway Introduces 'Big Company' Services for Mid-Size Business Customers
Based on a Cost-Efficient and Flexible Model, Gateway Offers an Unparalleled Customized Approach to Service Delivery
IRVINE, Calif., April 24 / -- Gateway today announced it is offering to its medium-sized business customers services that previously were only available to larger companies because of their cost and complexity.
The IT infrastructure services are primarily designed for private and public mid-market companies. These businesses tend to have dynamic and complex data center needs, but often do not have the money or personnel to deploy the latest technology designs and solutions to help improve their organization.
Gateway will differentiate itself by offering customers a completely personalized approach, so that for the first time, a medium-sized organization can have what used to be affordable to only larger companies -- a comprehensive IT solution tailored specifically to their environment at an affordable cost.
Gateway's Professional Services include three distinct phases; assessment, design and implementation. These phases can be bundled together or executed separately, depending on customer needs. This differs considerably from competitive offerings, which require the use of a single partner or an in-house service organization. Gateway is available to perform the entire IT project, from planning to design to deployment and support, or just for targeted project requirements as dictated by a given customer's business needs. This is especially important to medium-sized businesses who want to leverage established best practices, while staying engaged in development and implementation, so they can retain the ability to support and maintain the solution internally.
"These types of enterprise services are typically available only to large organizations. By offering this portfolio to its mid-market customers, Gateway is providing them with a class of services not normally within their reach," said Roger Kay, president of Endpoint Technologies Associates. "Working through partners, Gateway is able to deliver services tailored appropriately for its customer set."
With the addition of these new services, Gateway has extended its national network of system integrators that have expertise in providing enterprise-class services to mid-sized commercial businesses, government organizations and education institutions. This network of national providers allows Gateway to work with customers to identify the right resources for each engagement: from local partners to national firms specializing in specific technologies. This partnership model delivers superior value as it marries the criticality of the service to the right resources. Working in conjunction with Gateway's field system engineers and technical sales representatives, the Gateway Professional Services team consults with customers to understand their needs and recommends solutions that deliver a greater return on investment and improved utilization of IT resources.
"Our unique service model allows us to augment our customer's IT staff with the specific expertise and level of support they require," said Josh Wood, director of service products for Gateway. "Our flexible approach leveraging industry proven best practices allows internal IT managers to be involved in whatever phase of a project they choose. This ultimately leaves them better trained and confident they can manage the new infrastructure once it's in place."
Covering a range of sophisticated integration, migration and implementation services typically purchased in conjunction with a new server, network or NAS/SAN storage device, Gateway's new Professional Services include: Server Virtualization Services; Backup and Disaster Recovery Services; Hitachi SAN Implementation Services; Data and Application Migration Services; and Citrix Implementation Services. These new capabilities join a robust services portfolio that helps customers manage their complete technology lifecycle.
All services include an assessment of the client's IT infrastructure plus a detailed design plan for implementation. With prices typically starting around $4,000, engagements will be customized specifically to customers' needs.
Server Virtualization -- Minimizes the Total Cost of Ownership
Using Server Virtualization, organizations can reap the full potential of their assets and gain a more flexible, efficient and cost-effective IT infrastructure.
According to a 2005 Info-Tech Research Group report, "The ROI of Server Consolidation,"(1) virtualization can help IT departments reduce the number of actual servers by a factor of 5:1, 10:1 or even 20:1. By using virtualization technology to create digital abstractions that represent a real physical object, an enterprise running 60 distributed physical servers could consolidate that hardware into two multiprocessor servers running 10 virtual servers.
By identifying and consolidating underperforming assets, server virtualization provides a tremendous cost savings in hardware costs alone. It reduces the overall IT complexity administrators have to manage on a daily basis, further minimizing the total cost of ownership.
Gateway's service includes a thorough assessment of the current infrastructure and the development and implementation of virtual infrastructure strategies to fully utilize existing and new Gateway workstation and server system resources.
The average estimated completion time for Gateway to assess, design and implement a server virtualization solution is two to five days depending on complexity and scope.
Backup and Disaster Recovery -- Minimizes Risk, Speeds Recovery and Decreases Downtime
One of the most serious threats to any business is the loss of company data, whether through malicious intent, natural disaster or other threats. To enhance the safety and security of an organization's mission-critical data, companies need an efficient solution that minimizes the risk and operational impact during backup and recovery implementations.
Gateway's Backup and Disaster Recovery Service includes an analysis, which defines operational procedures for backup and recovery of mission critical data. Gateway will conduct an on-site assessment of the client's current backup and disaster recovery infrastructure, document recommended changes, and implement hardware and software solutions to reduce client data loss.
The average estimated completion time for Gateway to assess, design and implement a backup and disaster recovery solution is two to five days depending on complexity and scope.
Hitachi SAN Implementation -- Manages Data Storage
Many organizations are facing the challenge of managing explosive data growth by implementing storage area networks (SAN). SANs make large storage pools of data accessible across an enterprise, centralize data and dramatically improve storage utilization, resulting in lower costs. High-end, yet cost-effective SANs are ideal for mid-market organizations with limited IT budgets. Gateway's service includes the assessment, design and implementation of Hitachi Data Systems Storage Area Networks. When necessary, Gateway will leverage Hitachi's Professional Services for SAN implementations. A rapid implementation minimizes the risk and operational impact during data migration to a SAN, helping organizations stay productive.
The average estimated completion time for Gateway to assess, design and implement a Hitachi SAN solution is two to twenty days depending on complexity and scope.
Application and Data Migration -- Data Centralization Improves Efficiencies
Helping customers improve operational efficiencies and data storage strategies, Gateway's migration service consolidates customers' data in a centralized location for better control and overall management. Customers migrating to Windows Vista will find this service especially beneficial, as it minimizes the risk and operational impact associated with complex data migration.
This comprehensive service moves mission critical data from existing servers to new servers or SAN/NAS devices, and can help organizations prepare for future data growth. Gateway will assess the information to be migrated, provide a report detailing the risks and suggested improvements and recommend additional products to enhance manageability. After the data and/or applications migration is completed, Gateway will validate the migration.
The average estimated completion time for Gateway to assess, design and implement an application and data migration solution is two to eight days depending on complexity and scope.
Citrix Implementation -- Improves Information and Data Sharing
For customers implementing a Citrix solution for improved information utilization and data sharing, Gateway's Citrix Implementation Services helps centralize systems and data within the Citrix applications, thin clients and Gateway servers. The service includes implementation of Citrix applications onto new Gateway servers and implementation of third party thin client solutions.
The average estimated completion time for Gateway to assess, design and implement a Citrix implementation solution is two to five days depending on complexity and scope.
Gateway Professional
From ultra-reliable desktops, notebooks and servers to comprehensive services, Gateway has served organizations for 20 years. Gateway makes technology purchase, use and support simple through the programs developed for education, government, and business customers. The ProNet Partner Program brings channel-friendly benefits to help solution providers strengthen and grow their businesses. Gateway customers include many of the world's leading organizations, such as the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, the University of Arizona, state of California, state of New York and others. For more information on Gateway Professional solutions, visit www.gateway.com/business.
About Gateway
Since its founding in 1985, Irvine, Calif.-based Gateway (NYSE:GTW) has been a technology pioneer, offering award-winning PCs and related products to consumers, businesses, government agencies and schools. See www.gateway.com/ for more information.
1) 2005 Info-Tech Research Group report, "The ROI of Server Consolidation" infotech.com/ITA/White%20Papers/The%20ROI%20of%20Server%20Consolida tion.aspx
Source: Gateway, Inc.
CONTACT: Erin Davern of Gateway, Inc., +1-949-471-7785,
erin.davern@gateway.com
Web site: www.gateway.com/
http://www.gateway.com/business/
