HP, Microsoft and SAP Deliver Appliance for Duet Software

HP, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) and SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) today unveiled a new appliance that allows access to SAP® business processes and data via Microsoft® Office applications on high-performance HP servers.

The result of a collaborative effort, “Duet™ by SAP and Microsoft, powered by HP” is an HP ProLiant server that has been pre-installed with Duet software, a joint solution from Microsoft and SAP that gives information workers seamless access to select SAP business processes and data through Microsoft Office applications.

Duet by SAP and Microsoft, powered by HP acts as an appliance that allows customers to easily create a “proof of concept,” enabling them to more quickly and easily evaluate Duet’s business benefits using customer-specific data. Pre-loaded scripts have been engineered to help customers to jumpstart the Duet proof-of-concept and production implementations.

The Duet appliance speeds up deployment by shortening implementation time from setup to configuration, which both increases return on investment and enables customers to realize business benefits from Duet more quickly.

The Duet appliance also can be expanded to include additional HP ProLiant or HP Integrity servers that can fully integrate with a business’s live Microsoft and SAP applications. The industry-leading HP ProLiant and Integrity server technology behind the Duet appliance will give customers the scalability they need to handle the most demanding workloads with high levels of performance.
“Because of our alliances with both Microsoft and SAP, HP is in a leading position to package the benefits of Duet in a flexible and adaptable solution for rapid deployment,” said Chuck Smith, vice president, Enterprise Servers and Storage, Technology Solutions Group – Americas, HP. “HP Integrity and ProLiant servers provide high performance and superior flexibility for instant query execution and very fast response times – even for complex and non-routine queries. The Duet appliance offers flexibility that optimally adapts to business needs.”

“Just a year after launching Duet, a groundbreaking solution that connects SAP software to the Microsoft Office tools people use every day, we are pleased to announce another landmark initiative to accelerate the deployment of Duet,” said Lewis Levin, corporate vice president, Microsoft Office. “Duet by SAP and Microsoft, powered by HP empowers IT organizations with a plug-and-play solution that rapidly delivers the benefits of Duet to their information workers so they can drive more value, faster.”

“We already have tremendous customer and partner momentum with Duet – since last year’s announcement we have sold to more than 250 customers and 400,000 licenses,” said Doug Merritt, executive vice president of Business User Development and corporate officer, SAP Group. “Our appliance strategy with HP and Microsoft is one more example of SAP’s continuing tradition of co-innovation with partners to bring flexibility and innovation to our customers. Duet by SAP and Microsoft, powered by HP helps customers extend the reach of SAP solutions and improve overall productivity. Since the appliance is based on enterprise service-oriented architecture, customers can get their Duet deployment up and running quickly.”

Duet by SAP and Microsoft, powered by HP is available for customers to order starting June in North America. Additional information on Duet by SAP and Microsoft, powered by HP and the broad range of HP server, software and services solutions for SAP customers is available at www.hp.com/go/sap

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.

About SAP

SAP is the world’s leading provider of business software*. Today, more than 39,400 customers in more than 120 countries run SAP® applications -- from distinct solutions addressing the needs of small businesses and midsize companies to suite offerings for global organizations. Powered by the SAP NetWeaver® platform to drive innovation and enable business change, SAP software helps enterprises of all sizes around the world improve customer relationships, enhance partner collaboration and create efficiencies across their supply chains and business operations. SAP solution portfolios support the unique business processes of more than 25 industries, including high tech, retail, financial services, healthcare and the public sector. With subsidiaries in more than 50 countries, the company is listed on several exchanges, including the Frankfurt stock exchange and NYSE under the symbol “SAP.” (Additional information at www.sap.com.)

* SAP defines business software as comprising enterprise resource planning and related applications such as supply chain management, customer relationship management, product life-cycle management and supplier relationship management.

About HP

HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers – from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world’s largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $94.1 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended Jan. 31, 2007. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.