Compaq enters high-end Unix market

Compaq Computer Corp. last week announced its entry into the $32 billion

high-end Unix market with the launch of its AlphaServer GS series of computers.

Compaq wants to double its Unix market share within the telecommunications,

health care and high-performance technical computing markets during the

next three or four years and cut into the sales of some established players

in the field, including Sun Microsystems Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co. and IBM

Corp.

The federal market also may prove to be another one where the new AlphaServers

do well, said Ron Ross, president of Compaq Federal.

"Federal IT requirements are more dependent on nonstop high-performance

computing than ever before," Ross said. "From the defense of our country

to services for public citizens and federal employees worldwide, the government

manages the most sophisticated enterprise, [and] the AlphaServer GS series

provides federal agencies the reliable infrastructure they need to conduct

these mission-critical applications."

Compaq's AlphaServers use up to 32 processors each and can run many operating

systems at the same time.

The company also announced a partnership with software giant Oracle Corp.

to promote the new machines through go-to-market sales and other marketing

initiatives.