London, 4th November 2010 — Expanding a partnership announced in July at Microsoft’s World Wide Partner Conference,Fujitsu and Microsoft will today announce plans at The Government Leaders Forum to utilise the Microsoft Windows Azure platform to deliver cloud computing benefits to UK businesses. The partnership will enable the delivery of innovative application services to UK organisations and provide new opportunities for the Independent Software Vendor (ISV) community, both of which will lead to cost reduction, greater business responsiveness and increased choice.
Windows Azure is a flexible cloud computing platform offering from Microsoft which enables applications to be hosted and delivered to end users directly from the cloud. Fujitsu will work alongside Microsoft as a strategic partner providing services to enable, deliver and manage solutions built on Windows Azure.
In addition the partnership will create an eco-system which will allow smaller ISVs to exploit the Windows Azure platform to bring innovation to the UK market. Fujitsu will provide services to enable ISVs to migrate existing intellectual property (IP) to the Windows Azure platform and allow ISVs to deliver their software solutions as services using Windows Azure. ISVs can leverage Fujitsu’s trusted service delivery capabilities and experience of delivering IT services to the UK market.
Roger Gilbert, CEO Fujitsu UK & Ireland comments, “The Fujitsu and Microsoft Windows Azure partnership offers a significant opportunity to bring cost and agility benefits to UK businesses securely and reliably. ISVs have a great opportunity to provide their services with the support and technology back-up which comes from working with industry leaders. Fujitsu’s end-to-end management of services and long history of expertise in application delivery will ensure services are delivered with quality and integrity.”
Gordon Frazer, Microsoft’s UK managing director comments, “The introduction of the Windows Azure platform marks an important industry milestone in the transformation to cloud computing and presents an exciting opportunity for private and public sector organisations, as well as the ISV community. With decades-long experience and a proven track record together, Fujitsu and Microsoft can provide support to ISVs as they transition and migrate their largest and most complex environments to take advantage of the opportunities of the Windows Azure Platform.”
This announcement of the availability of cloud services in the UK forms part of a global partnership between Fujitsu and Microsoft which was announced earlier this year and is part of a portfolio of cloud offerings available from Fujitsu.
About Fujitsu
Fujitsu is a leading provider of IT-based business solutions for the global marketplace. With approximately 175,000 employees supporting customers in 70 countries, Fujitsu combines a worldwide corps of systems and services experts with highly reliable computing and communications products and advanced microelectronics to deliver added value to customers. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.6 trillion yen (US$50 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010. For more information, please see: www.fujitsu.com.
Fujitsu UK and Ireland is a leading IT systems, services and products company employing 11,500 people with an annual revenue of £2 billion. Its business is in enabling its customers to realise their objectives by exploiting information technology through its integrated product and service portfolio. This includes consulting, applications, systems integration, managed services and product for customers in the private and public sectors including retail, financial services, telecoms, government, defence and consumer sectors. For more information, please see: uk.fujitsu.com
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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