IBM Broadens Network Station Family With New Thin Clients and Enhanced Software

Business Wire, Sept 8, 1999

SOMERS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 8, 1999--

Expanded Product Line Addresses Wider Range of Computing Needs

IBM announced today the industry's most flexible and intuitive thin client management software, as well as two powerful new thin clients -- the IBM Network Stations 2200 and 2800. The management software features Netscape Communicator 4.5, exceptional network security, and makes it easier and faster for thin clients to boot up. The thin client devices offer improved multimedia, better price/performance, expanded memory, and the latest Java Virtual Machine.

The Network Station family is ideally suited to meet the rapidly evolving demands of e-business, providing customers with desktop client solutions that are simple, reliable, affordable, easy to manage, and adaptable to new applications without becoming obsolete. Thin clients provide the flexibility to access all types of server-based applications and exploit the reliability and efficiency of server-centric, e-business computing.

"With the launch of its latest Network Stations, IBM once again is demonstrating a strong commitment to the enterprise thin client market and to server based computing," said Eileen G. O'Brien, analyst with International Data Corporation (IDC). "IBM's message is that customers can choose the best device for their applications, environments, and different end users. Not only does IBM offer a choice of desktops, but also a spectrum of thin clients. From its broad portfolio of products, IBM can tailor whatever mix of thin clients enterprises need, presenting customers with a total desktop solution."

With the new hardware and software, IBM's Network Station family is equipped to support an even broader range of server-based applications, including Windows(a), 3270, 5250, ASCII, UNIX(a), Linux(a), browser, and Java(a) applications.

"Today's announcement reinforces the commitment IBM has demonstrated to the thin client market for three years, offering customers a complete spectrum of thin client solutions that leverage the benefits of server-based computing," said Ed Petrozelli, General Manager, IBM Network Station. "IBM has been a consistent thin client visionary from the very beginning. We will continue to be a thought leader and market leader in the future, and will continue working with our customers to develop the heterogeneous application capability they require."

More Diverse Network Station Family

The new IBM Network Station Series 2200 is a small, low cost thin client that addresses a variety of customer needs, including attachment of USB (Universal Serial Bus) devices. It is ideal for server-based and interactive browser-based applications where space, ease of use, reliability and affordability are important, and is particularly well suited to the retail, distribution, finance, banking, travel and transportation industries. The Series 2200, based on X86 architecture, is available September 17, 1999, at an estimated retail price of $559 (U.S.)(b) and comes with a three year warranty.

The IBM Network Station Series 2800, also announced today, is IBM's high performance thin client designed for fast deployment of applications. It is optimized for interactive, browser-based, audio/video applications and those that require extensive local processing on the client. The Series 2800 is ideal for task-oriented applications that require a variety of peripheral attachment options, expansion capability, and/or large memory capacity, such as bank teller systems, airline gate agents, retail point-of-sale, and ERP application front-ends. Like the 2200, it can access applications on virtually every server and comes with a three-year warranty. The Series 2800, which includes an Intel Pentium processor, is available September 17, 1999, at an estimated retail price of $799 (U.S.).(b)

Both the 2800 and 2200 complement the IBM Network Station Series 300, which provides affordable access to server-based applications, including Windows, and the IBM Network Station Series 1000, optimized for the growing number of interactive Web-based applications.

To manage the entire Network Station family, IBM is also announcing Version 2 Release 1 (V2R1) of its Network Station Manager software. It features Netscape Communicator 4.5 for browser access, supporting plug-ins from RealNetworks and for PDF file viewing. V2R1 provides an improved, easy-to-use graphical user interface, and includes new functions for accessing Windows applications including additional audio support and tighter network security via the Citrix ICA client. It also features new tools and enhancements for centralized management, administration, and updating of flash boot images. For execution of Java-based applications, Network Station Manager provides support for the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) 1.1.8.

For OS/2 customers who want to migrate to thin client computing, the Series 2800 can utilize IBM WorkSpace On-Demand 2.0(a), which enables the Series 2800 to access OS/2 applications as well as providing users with all of the benefits of server-based computing.