Intel's e-Business Solution Provider Program To Enable Web Integrators Around The World

eBSPs Seen as Crucial Link to Internet Commerce Adoption

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 28, 2000 -- Intel Corporation today announced the launch of the Intel e-Business Solution Provider (eBSP) Program to work with leading Web integrators to develop a "best of breed" e-Commerce integration framework, operating on Intel architecture-based systems, for companies setting up business on the Internet. Intel's eBSP Program will also provide Web integrators with training, matchmaking, and co-marketing efforts.

"The information technology industry is largely organized in horizontal layers," said Deborah Conrad, director of Intel's Internet and Software Relations Group. "This layered model on Intel architecture delivers tremendous flexibility and great value, but the pieces must be integrated in order for e-Commerce to work. Web integrators are key players in bringing all the components together. Intel's eBSP Program will provide Web integration experts with the products, tools, resources, and technical information they need to offer the best e-Business solutions to their customers."

The Intel eBSP Program's technology enablement will occur through the use of Intel labs, engineers, technical marketing support, and training and certification programs. The eBSPs will have access to Intel's database of collateral, white papers and solution briefs, as well as to Intel client and server hardware, software, and networking products.

"The lack of replicable, scalable, tested solutions that can be applied across multiple businesses has forced many e-Business solution providers to design custom solutions on a project basis," said Larry Krakauer, chief technology officer of AGENCY.COM, which has signed a cooperation agreement with Intel. "Intel's efforts in this program will allow us to perform the trade-off analyses and tests necessary to deliver integrated e-Business solutions to our clients."

The program builds on Intel's long history of success in working with application vendors through the optimization and porting efforts of the company's two dozen Application Solution Centers, where technology leaders are able to tune and optimize software running on Intel architecture based systems. The eBSP Program will enable Web integrators to expand their solution capabilities by working with other providers to build end-to-end electronic commerce solutions.

"Our work with Intel's Application Solutions Centers has exceeded expectations by delivering significant performance increases at the application level," said Jeremy Allaire, chief technology officer of Allaire, a leading independent e-Business platform provider. "We are looking forward to extending our work with Intel by evaluating e-Businesses solutions built on the Allaire platform that can be replicated with ease at customer sites. Our goal is to develop practical e-Business implementation recommendations that can be used in the marketplace."

In addition to technology enablement, the Intel eBSP Program will offer e-Business solution providers cooperative marketing efforts, special marketing funds for advertising, seminars and events, solutions catalogs, and the ability to market themselves on Intel's e-Business Center Web site. In addition, there will be matchmaking opportunities among multiple vendors, including original equipment manufacturers, independent software vendors, and Internet service providers (ISPs).

"Intel has tens of thousands of dealers around the world through our reseller programs, as well as relationships with thousands of ISPs through the Intel ISP program," said Conrad. "We think these resources can be connected to e-Business solutions providers as the world speeds toward e-Commerce adoption. There is a huge opportunity for sharing leads, matchmaking, and exchanging technical information among these parties."

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.