Business Services Industry

Intel Business MarketPlace Goes Live; Channel ``Matchmaking'' Tool Will Allow Internet Service Providers, Web Integrators, and Resellers Worldwide to Join Forces to Service E-Business Needs

Business Wire, May 23, 2000

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

Spring ISPCON 2000

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2000

Intel Corporation today announced the Intel(R) Business MarketPlace has begun operation.

The Intel Business MarketPlace is a Web information system that will enable more than 50,000 Intel e-Business Network members around the world to find partners and tested configurations to deploy e-Business solutions to their customers.

"Intel is creating a strong online community among all its channel program participants," said Robby Swinnen, director of Intel's ISP Program. "E-Business solutions require multiple channel partners with complimentary expertise. With the Intel Business MarketPlace, we are creating a tool for Intel's channel program participants to link up with Intel authorized solution providers and find tested e-Solutions."

Access to the Intel Business MarketPlace will be open to all Intel e-Business Network members, consisting of participants in several Intel channel programs, including system integrators, product dealers, networking VARs, ISPs, HSPs, ASPs, independent software vendors, and Web integrators. "Due to our long and deep channels history, Intel is in a unique position to bring all those complementary competencies together," Swinnen said.

The Intel Business MarketPlace system contains profiles of authorized providers, including locale, area of expertise, and vertical experience. Program participants can then use the database to find partners that will solve a customer's e-Business needs.

For example, a customer may hire an HSP for Web access and hosting. With the Business MarketPlace, the HSP can now partner with other Intel channel program participants and extend its core set of competencies to supply that customer with additional products and services, such as customer premise equipment, LAN technology, additional applications, or integration services. The customer knows the solution will be reliable and scalable, and have a "local touch."

"There's no one company that can do everything today -- the Intel Business MarketPlace will enable us to provide better, more comprehensive solutions in the marketplace," said Randy Zimmer, CEO of WIN Microsystems, a networking systems provider based in Newport Beach, Calif. "This new tool will give us easy access to the specialists that know each e-Business segment best. The ability to find and partner with companies that have specific expertise and package it for our customers gives us a competitive advantage."

Tested Solutions

An important aspect of the Intel Business MarketPlace will be the availability of integrated solutions, applications, and tools. These include e-Business solutions tested in Intel labs, as well as recipe books, case studies, white papers, integration rules, and validation reports. These materials will be cross-referenced by vertical business and locale, and include such subjects areas as SSL and XML acceleration and load-balancing, caching, e-mail, filtering, security, virtual private networks, connectivity, storefront, hosting, security, storage, steaming, and personalization.

Worldwide Availability

The Intel Business MarketPlace Web tool goes live this month in North America and Europe, and will be operational in the fourth quarter in Asia and Latin America. By the end of the year, the content will be translated into 11 languages. There will both public and private Web views to facilitate end-customers to find Intel channel program participants.

"The Intel Business MarketPlace will allow our channel members to go beyond their territorial boundaries and team with e-Business providers in other cities or countries," said Swinnen. "It will allow them to complement in-houses core competencies with expertise found all over the world."

Content will also include notification about local cross-program channel events, such as local meetings of the Intel Channel Conference, which encourages matchmaking among members and customers, as well as other face-to-face customer-provider meetings.

For more information on Intel's channel programs, visit www.intel.com/business/ebiznetwork.> Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom.> Note to Editors: Third-party marks and brands are property of their respective holders.