Good place to download tunes.
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Compaq to Join Starbucks and Microsoft to Create Breakthrough Wireless Customer
/FROM PR NEWSWIRE DALLAS 888-776-3971/
-- WITH LOGO -- TO BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY EDITORS:
Compaq to Join Starbucks and Microsoft to Create Breakthrough Wireless
Customer Experience
Starbucks Names Compaq Preferred Technology Infrastructure Provider
HOUSTON and SEATTLE, May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Compaq Computer Corporation
(NYSE: CPQ) and Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq: SBUX) today announced a
five-year strategic relationship in which Compaq was named Starbucks preferred
information technology infrastructure provider for its retail stores and
corporate headquarters. The two innovative companies will work together to
blend technology and lifestyle, thereby enhancing the Starbucks Experience and
supporting global growth.
"Starbucks chose to partner with Compaq to leverage the power of two great
brands as we enhance our customers' in-store experience through leading-edge
technology," said Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman and chief global
strategist.
Compaq will join Starbucks and Microsoft in creating a high-speed
connected environment in Starbucks locations across North America. Compaq, a
worldwide leader in mobile computing devices, has been named the in-store
Internet access device provider for the wireless broadband network. In the
future, Starbucks customers will be able to enjoy their favorite coffee
beverages while accessing broadband content and services through innovative
Compaq wireless devices such as the hot-selling, award-winning iPAQ Pocket PC
or their own wirelessly enabled devices.
"Compaq's vision for a wireless Internet is all about delivering
personalized content with anytime, anywhere access," said Michael Capellas,
Compaq's chairman and chief executive officer. "This alliance with Starbucks
is strong evidence of our focus on deploying innovative products and providing
solutions for our partners' success."
"This agreement allows us to take advantage of Compaq's incredible breadth
and depth of technology and service offerings to continue to improve many
aspects of our business," said Darren Huston, senior vice president of New
Ventures at Starbucks. "Working closely with Compaq and Microsoft on
enterprise and consumer-facing innovations will ultimately help us improve
store operations and enhance the experience of our customers."
Under this agreement, Compaq will be the primary and preferred strategic
provider for information technology infrastructure for Starbucks, such as
enterprise class servers and storage solutions, desktops and laptops and iPAQ
products, and will assess both present and future technology needs to support
Starbucks global growth.
Starbucks Background
Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of
specialty coffee in the world. In addition to its more than 4,100 retail
locations in North America, the United Kingdom, continental Europe, the Middle
East and the Pacific Rim, Starbucks sells coffee and tea products through its
specialty operations, including its online store at Starbucks.com.
Additionally, Starbucks produces and sells bottled Frappuccino(R) coffee drink
and a line of superpremium ice creams through its joint venture partnerships.
The Company's other brands enhance the Starbucks Experience through best-of-
class products: Tazo Tea Company offers a line of innovative premium teas, and
Hear Music produces and distributes a line of exceptional compact discs.
This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding Starbucks
Corporation's business within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Such statements, including, but not limited to,
expectations regarding the relationship with Compaq and Starbucks operations,
are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive
information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual future
results and trends may differ materially depending on a variety of factors
including but not limited to, material prices and availability, successful
execution of internal performance and expansion plans, the impact of
competition, the effect of legal proceedings and other risks detailed in the
Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Compaq Background
Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune Global 100 company, is a leading
global provider of technology and solutions. Compaq designs, develops,
manufactures, and markets hardware, software, solutions, and services,
including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant
business-critical solutions, and communications products, commercial desktop
and portable products, and consumer PCs that are sold in more than
200 countries. Information on Compaq and its products and services is
available at www.compaq.com.
Compaq and the Compaq logo Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current
expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The potential
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
include: market conditions, particularly in North America, increased
competitive environment and pricing pressures, disruptions related to
restructuring actions and delays in the implementation of changes in delivery
models. Further information on these factors and other factors that could
affect Compaq's financial results is included in Compaq's Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including the latest Annual Report on
Form 10-K and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which will be filed shortly.
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SOURCE Compaq Computer Corporation and Starbucks Coffee Company
/CONTACT: Dayna Fried, 949-240-2119, or dayna.fried@Compaq.com, or
MaryMatalobos, 281-514-0484, or mary.matalobos@Compaq.com, both of Compaq
ComputerCorporation; or Cheri Libby of Starbucks Coffee Company, 206-318-7272,
orclibby@Starbucks.com/
/Photo: newscom.com Newswire
Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 201-369-3467/
/Web site: compaq.com / |
