Bundled Wireless Data Solution Offers Business Customers High-speed Mobile Wireless Access to Company Applications via the Enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS)
, Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE:IM)
, Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ:SWIR)
and Sprint (NYSE: FON; PCS) today announced that the four companies have joined together to introduce a bundled enterprise wireless data solution to be sold through the PCS Business Solutions(SM) Program. The alliance members in the program comprise some of the largest and most experienced consultants, distributors, systems integrators, value-added resellers (VARs) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the industry.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001013/SPRINTLOGO )
Designed to give customers a cost-efficient, simple way to wirelessly access business applications and information over the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network, this solution is expected to dramatically improve the productivity and response time of mobile employees. The bundled offering provides customers a single point of contact for a complete wireless data solution, including Citrix(R) MetaFrame(R) application serving software, which enables wireless access to company applications running on a central server; the PCS Connection Card(TM) by Sierra Wireless (AirCard(R) 550), a wide area wireless PC Card which is installed in mobile devices; and wireless network connectivity via the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network.
Specifically, customers receive a five-user starter pack of Citrix MetaFrame software, five PCS Connection Cards(TM) from Sprint by Sierra Wireless (AirCard 550), and a wireless data service for five users on the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network. Ingram Micro will serve as the direct link in providing value-added resellers (VARs) with access to the solution.
Mobile Wireless Access to Full-featured Applications in their Original Form
With this collective offering, MetaFrame customers will be able to wirelessly access the full-featured business applications and data they choose to publish -- such as inventory status, order Citrix, Ingram Micro, Sierra Wireless and Sprint Launch Channel-Ready Mobile Wireless Data Solution for the Enterprise Customers entry, sales force automation (SFA), customer relationship management (CRM), field service dispatch and other core line-of-business applications -- using mobile devices such as laptops, tablet PCs, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and smart phones. PCS Connection Cards by Sierra Wireless (AirCard 550) are installed in the mobile devices to allow customers to access data over the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network.
"We're pleased to work together with these companies to offer mobile business customers yet another solution that provides access to company information and applications wirelessly," said Phil Bowman, vice president, business marketing, PCS Division, Sprint. "This bundled wireless data solution provides Sprint wireless customers with a tool that can help them to increase productivity, reduce costs, enhance customer satisfaction and create a competitive edge."
Citrix MetaFrame software enhances the performance of applications that are accessed wirelessly because it eliminates the traditional requirement of transferring entire applications over a wireless network. Since application processing takes place on a central server, only keystrokes, mouse clicks and screen captures are transferred wirelessly between client and server, consuming as little as 10 Kbps of network bandwidth. With applications centralized on the server, rather than the wireless device, Web applications can also run more efficiently, reducing many of the performance constraints resulting from different browser functionality and network connections.
Security concerns are also addressed by MetaFrame as no data is required to be stored on the mobile device. In addition, this offering includes the Citrix Secure Gateway component of MetaFrame to provide robust authentication and encryption of the data passed between the server and the mobile device.
The PCS Connection Card by Sierra Wireless (AirCard 550) further improves overall application performance through superior connection times to the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network. This new 3G 1X network delivers average data speeds between 50 to 70 Kbps, with peak performance of up to 144 Kbps. As a result, customers can access almost any size application with exceptional performance on wireless devices.
"This solution is ideal for any type of organization that wants to empower its mobile workforce. With its all-in-one voice and data functionality and reliable, high-speed access to information, this wireless bundle will enable mobile workers to increase their productivity and efficiency while traveling or working away from the office," said Jason Cohenour, senior vice president, worldwide sales and marketing, Sierra Wireless. "We look forward to working with our partners in developing mobile offerings that provide the freedom and flexibility to access information wherever and whenever it's needed most."
Leveraging the Channel: Expertise, Service and Support
Business customers will be able to experience not only the convenience of purchasing an entire wireless data solution from one vendor, but also the benefits of having expert IT professionals manage their corporate implementation.
"By teaming wireless carriers with vendors and resellers, Ingram Micro is delivering wireless solutions with the value-added services we provide as a national broadline distributor," said Kathy Riggs, director of vendor business management, Ingram Micro North America. "Ingram Micro is well-equipped to help VARs and vendors capitalize on the growth that is taking place globally."
"This complete wireless solution, designed specifically for delivery through the channel to the enterprise, gives companies the opportunity to experience the benefits of wireless access to company information without a large investment, while offering future flexibility and scalability as their needs grow," said Keith Turnbull, vice president and general manager of Citrix's workforce mobility business unit. "This is truly an industry first, whereby customers have a single point of contact for a solution that allows them to securely and cost-effectively run virtually any application as it was originally written, with full functionality and without rewrites, over the nation's largest all-digital, all-CDMA Third Generation wireless network."
For more information customers can visit http://bsp.sprintpcs.com/ or contract Jim Nixon of Ingram Micro at 1-800-456-8000 #66669 or james.nixon@IngramMicro.com
About Citrix
Citrix Systems, Inc. is a global leader in virtual workplace software and services that provide access to applications, information, processes and people on any device, over any network, anywhere, anytime. Citrix makes today's digital office completely virtual - instead of having to go to your office, the office follows you. Working with the world's top industry, integration and consulting partners, Citrix delivers enterprise-ready solutions to business challenges including application deployment, remote office connectivity, workforce mobility and business continuity. More than 120,000 companies worldwide use Citrix(R) Solutions for the Virtual Workplace to give users more mobility, give IT organizations more flexibility and reduce the cost of computing.
Citrix offers two families of products that enable virtual access to information: Application Server software, including MetaFrame XP(TM), MetaFrame(R) for Windows(R) and MetaFrame for UNIX(R); and Access Portal software, including NFuse(R) Elite, NFuse Classic and Enterprise Services for NFuse. The Company markets its products through a well-established indirect channel comprising a large number of resellers, integrators and consultants. Citrix is traded on the Nasdaq Stock MarketSM under the symbol CTXS, and is part of the Standard and Poor's 500 Index. Citrix is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For more information, please visit the Citrix Web site at http://www.citrix.com.
About Ingram Micro Inc.
Ingram Micro Inc. is the leading wholesale provider of technology products and supply chain management services in the world. With sales of more than $25 billion for the fiscal year 2001, the company provides the best way to get technology from the people who make it to the people who use it. Visit http://www.ingrammicro.com/corp.
About Sierra Wireless
Sierra Wireless, Inc. is a leading provider of wireless data communications products. Sierra Wireless develops and markets wireless PC Cards for portable computers, OEM modules for embedded applications, and rugged vehicle-mounted wireless systems. Sierra Wireless is the founding member of the WirelessReadya Alliance, an alliance of industry-leading hardware, software, and service companies committed to the delivery of complete and compelling wireless data solutions. For more information on Sierra Wireless, visit its web site at http://www.sierrawireless.com.
About Sprint
Sprint is a global communications company serving more than 26 million business and residential customers in over 70 countries. With approximately 75,000 employees worldwide and more than $26 billion in annual revenues, Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying state-of-the-art network technologies, including the United States' first nationwide all-digital, fiber-optic network. Sprint's award-winning Tier 1 Internet backbone is being extended to key global markets to provide customers with a broad portfolio of scalable IP products. Sprint's high-capacity, high-speed network gives customers fast, dependable, nonstop access to the vast majority of the world's Internet content. Sprint also operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States, including more than 4,000 cities and communities.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This press release includes certain estimates, projections and other forward-looking statements. Future performance cannot be ensured. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include:
* extent and duration of the current economic downturn;
* the effects of vigorous competition in the markets in which Sprint
operates;
* the costs and business risks associated with providing new services and
entering new markets necessary to provide nationwide or global
services;
* adverse change in the ratings afforded our debt securities by
nationally accredited ratings organizations;
* the ability of the PCS Group to continue to grow a significant market
presence;
* the ability of the PCS Group to improve its profitability and reduce
its cash requirements;
* the effects of mergers and consolidations within the telecommunications
industry and unexpected announcements or developments from others in
the telecommunications industry;
* the uncertainties related to the outcome of bankruptcies of others
within the telecommunication industry;
* the uncertainties related to Sprint's strategic investments;
* the impact of any unusual items resulting from ongoing evaluations of
Sprint's business strategies;
* the impact of new technologies on Sprint's business;
* unexpected results of litigation filed against Sprint;
* the possibility of one or more of the markets in which Sprint competes
being impacted by changes in political or other factors such as
monetary policy, legal and regulatory changes, including the impact of
the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Telecom Act), or other external
factors over which Sprint has no control; and
* other risks referenced from time to time in Sprint's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The words "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Sprint is not obligated to publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this press release or unforeseen events. Sprint provides a detailed discussion of risk factors in periodic SEC filings and you are encouraged to review these filings.
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Source: Sprint
CONTACT: Amy Schiska, Sprint, +1-913-762-7027; PCS: +1-913-568-5248,
aschis01@sprintspectrum.com; Andrea Susan Dyck, Sierra Wireless,
+1-604-233-7823, adyck@sierrawireless.com; Sabrina Rios, Citrix Systems, Inc.
+1-954-267-2529, sabrina.rios@citrix.com; Marie Meoli, Benjamin Group for
Ingram Micro, Inc., +1-949-260-1300, ext., 229, marie_meoli@benjamingroup.com
Web site: http://www.sprintpcs.com/
http://www.sierrawireless.com/
http://www.citrix.com/
http://bsp.sprintpcs.com/
http://www.ingrammicro.com/corp