Unisys Opens Applications Solution Center for Intel Architecture

Business Wire, Jan 21, 1999

BLUE BELL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 21, 1999--

Center Focuses on Performance Optimization for Intel-Based ISV

Applications; Unisys object repository is first application tuned

Unisys Corporation Thursday announced it has opened its first Application Solution Center (ASC) for the Intel Architecture (IA) in Mission Viejo, CA.

The new ASC is among the first such OEM-sponsored centers. It is designed to assist Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to port and optimize their applications for Intel architectures utilizing Unisys computer systems based on Microsoft Windows NT.

"The Unisys ASC is the next logical step in our strategy to bring enterprise-class computing attributes to the Windows NT operating environment," said Leo Daiuto, group vice president and general manager, Enterprise NT Systems, Unisys Computer Systems. "The lab allows us to work closely with our ISV partners to tune performance and deliver best-of-breed solutions on Intel architectures."

"Intel believes that the future success of Intel-based servers requires the continuous increase in the availability of optimized and tuned applications," said Scott Richardson, director, Server Software Marketing, Intel Corporation. "We are very excited to see Unisys play a major role in this effort to help ensure that key ISVs optimize their applications for IA-32 architecture and for future IA-64 architectures."

The Unisys ASC serves the needs of developers of high-performance, 32-bit applications for Intel-based servers. The ASC will also help developers port and tune software for the 64-bit Merced, when available. Users of the lab can tap the expertise of dedicated Unisys engineers and utilize various tools, including Intel's VTune performance enhancement tool.

Popular Unisys Application Is First to be Tuned, Achieves 130%

Improvement

The first application program to utilize the Unisys ASC was the company's own Universal Repository (UREP) product, a dynamic, extensible information system that defines, integrates and manages metadata, application components, and other business data. The tuning was conducted on a Windows NT based Unisys HR/6 enterprise server using six 200MHz Intel Pentium Pro microprocessors.

Tuning and optimization work performed on the UREP application at the Unisys ASC concentrated on improving the amount of time required to process a certain number of transactions through the UREP system. In the lab, application modifications were prototyped and achieved a 130% performance improvement.

This performance gain means that UREP can now process the same amount of work in less than half the time previously required. An additional benefit of this improvement is an increase in the number of concurrent UREP users -- an advantage that will be refined in a further initiative at the ASC. Both performance enhancements will be incorporated in future releases of the UREP product.

About the Unisys Universal Repository (UREP)

Unisys Universal Repository (UREP) is a fully oriented repository that supports the sharing of information across development tools, made possible by an extensible object-oriented meta model, versioning services, configuration management and team-based development approaches ideal for supporting large projects.

Part of the Unisys Object Management program, UREP is being used by ISVs and large corporations in various domains such as client/server and object development environments, data warehousing, metadata management and business object management. Access the UREP home page at http://www.marketplace.unisys.com/products/urep for additional information.

About Unisys

Unisys (NYSE:UIS) is more than 33,000 employees helping customers in 100 countries apply information technology to solve their business problems.

Unisys solutions are based on a broad portfolio of global information services including systems integration, outsourcing, "repeatable" application solutions, consulting, network integration, remote network management, and multivendor maintenance and support, coupled with enterprise-class servers and associated middleware, software and storage.

Repeatable solutions are focused on key vertical markets including financial services, transportation, telecommunications, government, publishing and other commercial markets. Headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, in the Greater Philadelphia area, Unisys had 1998 annual revenue of $7.2 billion. Access the Unisys home page on the World Wide Web - http://www.unisys.com - for further information.

Unisys is a registered trademark of Unisys Corporation. Intel is a registered trademark and Pentium Pro is a trademark of Intel Corporation. All other brands and products referenced herein are acknowledged to be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.