SAP selects EMC intelligent opens storage solutions; EMC's Symmetrix 3000 ICDA storage systems significantly increase performance of SAP's R/3 applications

Business Wire, June 17, 1996

HOPKINTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 17, 1996-- EMC Corporation today announced that applications software giant SAP AG has acquired and installed five additional EMC Symmetrix 3000 ICDA (Integrated Cached Disk Array) open storage systems at its headquarters in Walldorf, Germany. Symmetrix systems now meet a major portion of SAP's demand for high-performance storage solutions for R/3 applications in the open systems environment. EMC Symmetrix systems support SAP's internal R/3 open systems infrastructure on a worldwide basis for both development and business operations software applications. SAP's R/3 applications for client/server systems hold the largest share of the worldwide client/server application software market.

SAP's selection of EMC's intelligent storage products was based on a series of benchmark tests that allowed SAP to assess various vendors' offerings. "To ensure the success of our business, as well as that of our customers, we need 100% availability of all data," said Juergen Voss, SAP AG's Data Center Manager. "We are convinced that EMC's Symmetrix systems meet our requirements with respect to performance and reliability."

"A large number of the world's premier enterprises -- such as SAP -- have recognized the strategic benefits that EMC's intelligent storage solutions can provide for the overall performance of their corporate environments," says Werner Brockhagen, Managing Director of EMC's German operations. "The unique performance of our products is the result of a highly optimized storage configuration, where software and hardware components are finely tuned to one another."

First introduced in June 1995, the Symmetrix 3000 ICDA systems extend to client/server environments capabilities normally associated only with mainframe storage. These capabilities include high performance, capacities to more than one terabyte in a single cabinet, large-scale connectivity, continuous availability and reliability. With one easily managed central storage resource connected to multiple server platforms, customers are able to concentrate more on providing additional services and information and spend less time managing the storage needs of multiple servers spread across their organization.

SAP products offer real-time enterprise integration across many functional areas including financial, manufacturing, sales and distribution, and human resources. SAP applications are suitable for use in any industry sector and support all major computing platforms, including UNIX, Windows NT and AS/400 environments. SAP software preconfigurations and development tools offer customers choices and facilitate implementation, while the extensive network of implementation partners and service programs provide consistent and responsive service to an expanding SAP customer base.

SAP is a market and technology leader in client/server business application software, providing comprehensive solutions for companies of all sizes and all industry sectors. Cultivating innovative technologies on a solid foundation of business experience, SAP delivers scalable solutions that enable its customers to continually improve upon best business practices. SAP products empower people to respond quickly and decisively to dynamic market conditions helping businesses achieve and maintain a competitive advantage. Founded in 1972, SAP is based in Walldorf, Germany, and employs more than 7,000 people at offices in more than 40 countries worldwide.

EMC Corporation, based in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, is the world's leading independent supplier of enterprise-wide intelligent information storage and retrieval technology, designing systems for mainframe, open systems and midrange environments. The company has offices worldwide, trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EMC and is a member of the S&P 500 Index. For further information about EMC products and services, EMC's home page can be accessed at http://www.emc.com.

CONTACT: EMC Corp.

David Farmer, 508-435-1000