Getronics and Stratus Team Up to Deliver Continuously Available E-Banking Solutions

Business Wire, Nov 27, 2000

Business/Technology Editors

BILLERICA & MAYNARD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 27, 2000

Getronics (AMSTERDAM:GTN), a leading international services and solutions company, and Stratus Computer, maker of the world's most reliable servers, announced today an agreement targeted at delivering continuously available third-generation e-banking solutions to the financial services industry.

Under the agreement, Getronics and Stratus will collaborate on future engagements that will benefit from using Stratus(R) ftServer(TM) Windows 2000-based servers as the fault-tolerant hardware platform for Getronics' Globalfs(TM) financial services solution. Globalfs provides financial institutions with a unified framework for a multi-channel, multi-application system capable of delivering banking services to customers whenever, wherever, and by whatever means they choose to access them.

"Globalfs unifies the people, processes, and information necessary for exceptional customer service across all retail banking delivery channels, while the Stratus ftServer hardware platform helps ensure uninterrupted customer access to accounts, bank products and services," said Karen Roche, president of Getronics' business solutions and consulting. "Low cost, fault-tolerant computing is a new paradigm for the banking industry. It offers our clients new options for designing network-centric computing environments, including placement of ftServers in branch offices for rock-solid protection against system downtime."

Globalfs utilizes an open architecture and is based on Microsoft's n-tier architecture. Stratus' ftServer system is the industry's only fault-tolerant multi-processor server supporting the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000 Server, Advanced Server, and Datacenter Server operating systems.

Getronics' solutions facilitate the reuse of business processes and components across multiple channels--call center, Internet, branch channels--to optimize unified enterprise-wide delivery of products and services. This is critical to the success of customer relationship management (CRM) programs that financial institutions employ to deliver greater value to their customers.

"Transparent, continuous access to account information and assets is among the most critical success determinants in creating and retaining a loyal customer base," said Bill Hartnett, global director of Financial Services at Microsoft. "Providing retail banking clients with a Stratus fault-tolerant platform in their Globalfs infrastructure is a powerful feature, and one that couldn't be more timely in the financial services industry. Windows 2000 gives businesses, like Stratus Computers and Getronics, the agility, speed and enterprise level reliability needed to compete and win."

According to Philip Izzo, Stratus' director of business development, Financial Services, "In their respective areas, both Getronics and Stratus are highly regarded in the banking industry for their unique capabilities. By combining these capabilities, we can offer a solution that is ideally suited to the current and evolving demands of seamless, electronic banking."

About Getronics

Getronics is one of the world's leading providers of Solutions and Services to the professional users of Information & Communication Technology (ICT). With 30,000 employees and a direct presence in more than 40 countries, Getronics works with many of the world's largest companies to help them maximise the value of their technology investment.

Getronics is headquartered in Amsterdam, with regional head offices in Boston, London, Singapore and Washington DC. Getronics shares are traded on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange ('GTN'). Further information about Getronics and its Solutions and Services can be found at www.getronics.com.

About Stratus Computer

Stratus Computer offers the world's most proven range of continuously available computer platforms, application solutions, professional services, and technologies for mission-critical business operations. Stratus serves customers worldwide, focusing primarily on financial services, retail, travel, electronic commerce, healthcare, public safety and gaming industries. Many of Stratus' customers are highly visible industry leaders such as prominent U.S. securities firms, major credit card companies, the largest stock exchange in Asia, the largest options exchange in the world, and 15 out of the world's 20 largest banks. Stratus Computer Systems, S.a.r.l. is a privately held company.