Revolutionary Initiative for Global Electronic Software Distribution

A landmark agreement among Infonet Services Corp., Software Spectrum Inc., Microsoft Corp., and Corporate Software Inc. is set to transform the way multinational corporations manage their desktop software. The innovative solutions will enable MIS directors to regain control over worldwide distribution of new software, applications, and equipment. By leveraging Infonet's global area network, Microsoft's Windows NT Advanced Server, and the consortium's complementary software purchasing, licensing, and installation management solutions, the announcement addresses 75 percent of the total software ownership cost for multinational corporations.

Key Takeaways:

• The agreement aims to reduce management costs for large corporations by providing a comprehensive solution for managing networked PCs, including inventory, software management, troubleshooting, and performance management tools.
• The consortium will deliver an entirely new class of management solutions for large corporations, substantially reducing the costs associated with software distribution, licensing, and support.
• Infonet's global data communications capability, combined with Microsoft's distributed systems management technology and Software Spectrum's electronic software distribution (ESD) capabilities, will enable a seamless and efficient process for global, electronic software distribution.
• The solution will integrate Microsoft's Windows NT Advanced Server technology with software and asset administration and service management applications from Software Spectrum and Corporate Software.
• Companies using the cooperative service will gain a competitive advantage, see immediate benefits, including improved software distribution methods, simpler licensing and purchasing procedures, enhanced service and support, and firmer control over asset management.
• According to a report by the Gartner Group, the variable cost portion of global software and LAN management is among the highest expenses for desktop system management in multinational companies, estimated to be one administrator to 40 workstations.
• "Over a five-year period, the price paid for a software license and upgrades is less than 25 percent of the total cost of ownership for that package," said Bill Kirwin, vice president, personal computing for the Gartner Group.
• The agreement is an example of companies working together to bring groundbreaking new technology to the market, setting a new standard for delivery of value-added services and response to the demands of competition and performance in an increasingly networked global economy.

Statistics:

• The variable cost portion of global software and LAN management is among the highest expenses for desktop system management in multinational companies, estimated to be one administrator to 40 workstations.
• Over a five-year period, the price paid for a software license and upgrades is less than 25 percent of the total cost of ownership for that package.
• The consortium plans to deliver an entirely new class of management solutions for large corporations, substantially reducing the costs associated with software distribution, licensing, and support.

Sources:

• "Infonet Services Corp. Wednesday announced an agreement with Software Spectrum Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Corporate Software Inc. to introduce a family of enterprise management solutions..."
• "Recent analyst reports indicate that the variable cost portion of global software and LAN management are among the highest expenses for desktop system management in multinational companies."
• "This announcement is an early indicator of a trend that the Gartner Group has encouraged, where relationships with vendors become cost driven rather than price driven," said Bill Kirwin, vice president, personal computing for the Gartner Group.
• "We are enthusiastic about the ability to provide multinational corporations with a complete, electronic software distribution solution using DIAMOND Version 3.0 with Microsoft's Hermes over Infonet's global communications highway," said Software Spectrum's president, Richard Sims.
• "This effort is part of our ongoing commitment to our customers to reduce the costs of acquiring, distributing, managing and supporting desktop software," explained Mort Rosenthal, chairman and chief executive officer of Corporate Software.