IRVINE, Calif., April 11, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Vision Solutions ("Vision"), the industry standard in eServer High Availability, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of the business of U.K.-based OS Solutions ("OSS"), a leading provider of advanced systems management, disk and data optimization utilities and SMB High Availability for the IBM eServer iSeries platform market.
"This clearly is a great move by Vision and addresses the growing requirement for more system optimization and improved autonomics in the dynamic enterprise," said Dan Kusnetzky, Program Vice President of IDC. "This combination of companies strengthens Vision's offerings and IDC continues to believe that Vision's offerings should be on an organization's short list in addressing availability requirements of the dynamic enterprise."
The combined companies create a global iSeries solutions powerhouse with the most complete and cost-effective availability solutions currently in the market, now combining systems management and optimization into the delivering of high availability. The range of solutions now includes: OS Director, a highly advanced set of autonomic system optimization tools; OS Data Manager, a unique archiving tool for increased performance and legislative compliance in enterprises and OS-DR and OS-HA, pure remote journaling high availability offerings for the IBM iSeries server. The new technology addresses specific market segments and requirements that complement Vision's industry leading ORION(tm) offerings. No other vendor can deliver such a complete solution set offering disk and data management, systems optimization, and advanced autonomic functionality so well integrated into high availability.
"As leading solution providers, we are looking for solutions that are more tightly integrated and deliver more functionality from a single vendor," said Dennis Burke, President of Essex Technology. "The addition of OS Solutions products to Vision's well-established multi-platform ORION offerings provides that more complete story and enables Essex to deliver better value to our customers with technology, methods and support from the industry leader. This is a very good thing."
This acquisition is strategic for Vision and adds not only highly complementary new products based on leading-edge technology, but adds new customers, additional channels of distribution and an even larger European presence for Vision. The combined companies will share more than 2,200 customers and leverage their respective unique technologies and channel partnerships across the globe. As part of the acquisition, Vision will be strengthening its European presence by opening a European base of operations in the United Kingdom that will house sales, marketing, development and support.
"More than ever, IBM is striving to deliver educational tools, marketing support and incentives to our partners worldwide to deliver more comprehensive solutions to our customers," said Mark Shearer, General Manager, IBM eServer iSeries. "Vision has extensive experience and demonstrated leadership that IBM has come to rely on in the high availability space. The addition of tools and utilities from OS Solution further enhances opportunities for success within the mid-market."
"OS Solutions products deliver such a great feature set that they really should be the first installation done to any iSeries right after the operating system," said Jeff Murri of JR Simplot Company. "We are excited about OS Solutions and Vision becoming one company because the power of the larger company behind the combined technology resources will result in great products becoming even better."
About Vision Solutions
Vision Solutions, headquartered in Irvine, Calif., is the industry standard in eServer High Availability, providing software, services and support solutions for managing a company's mission-critical applications and data. With more than 1,850 customers and 11,000 licenses around the world, the company works closely with a worldwide network of channel partners supporting virtually every industry with its world-class solutions: Visualize(tm), Vision Suite(r), ORION(tm) and ORION Integrator. Vision Solutions is an IBM Premier Business Partner and an IBM High Availability Business Partner. Vision Solutions is a member of the publicly traded IDION group of companies (JSE: IDI). For more information on Vision Solutions, please visit the company's website at www.visionsolutions.com.
About OS Solutions
OS Solutions, based in the United Kingdom, is a leader in Remote Journaling High Availability and advanced Systems and Data Management tools and utilities for the IBM eServer iSeries providing sophisticated software, services and support across industry segments and applications. The Company has more than 370 customers worldwide using its industry leading, highly integrated family of products including OS Director, a systems optimization and systems management solution; OSD-Data Manager, an advanced archiving and data management solution and OSD-High Availability, a state of the art, pure remote journaling based solution for iSeries high availability. OS Solutions is an IBM Business Partner and IBM Partner in Development.
About Essex Technologies
Essex Technology Group Inc. is an IBM-designated Premier Business Partner, acknowledged by IBM as a "go-to" player for full-service infrastructure, e-business, and implementation consulting services in the middle market. We offer a unique combination of certified technical expertise and proven experience, which has earned us several prestigious IBM Business Partner Awards, including the "Americas Business Partner Leadership Award" and the "iSeries Eagle Award."
About IDC
IDC is the premier global market intelligence and advisory firm in the information technology and telecommunications industries. We analyze and predict technology trends so that our clients can make strategic, fact-based decisions on IT purchases and business strategy. Over 775 IDC analysts in 50 countries provide local expertise and insights on technology markets, and our management team is comprised of experienced and respected industry luminaries. Business executives and IT managers have relied for 40 years on our advice to make decisions that contribute to the success of their organizations.
About J.R. Simplot
The J. R. Simplot Company is a privately held food and agribusiness corporation based in Boise, Idaho. We employ more than 12,000 people in the U.S., Canada, China, Mexico, and Australia. Annual sales are about $3 billion, derived principally from food, fertilizer, turf and horticultural, cattle feeding, and other enterprises related to agribusiness. Simplot is one of the world's largest frozen-potato processors, annually turning out three billion pounds of French fries and other potato products worldwide. The firm also is one of the nation's largest beef-cattle producers, and ranks as a major agricultural-fertilizer manufacturer, with markets in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.