"This initiative will leverage the synergy in the visions of the two companies-Compaq's NonStop eBusiness and Microsoft's Business Internet. The solutions developed through this alliance will deliver true non-stop business capability to the Indian market, a critical success factor in the Internet economy, where 24x7 availability of services is taken for granted by the customer," said Compaq India MD Balu Doraisamy.

Through this alliance, Compaq and Microsoft will host roadshows across the country to showcase their solutions at leading software technology parks. In addition, a Compaq-Microsoft Competency Centre is planned to be set up in Bangalore as a `proof of concept' for high-end technologies such as Clustering, Load Balancing and Interoperability between various platforms, including Windows, Novell Netware and Tru 64 Unix.

The partnership will target enterprises, small and medium businesses and the developer community in India to communicate the advantages of the Windows 2000-Compaq platform. Both the companies also plan to undertake an aggressive joint marketing campaign comprising reseller training events and a Pan-India customer roadshow to educate target audiences.

Product bundling programmes aggressively priced for small and medium businesses and a joint awareness-building advertising campaign are also planned.``With the Internet revolution knocking at our doorstep, Indian enterprises, developers and end consumers can now leverage the combined strength of leading Internet technologies along with the rest of the world,'' said Microsoft India, MD, Sanjay Mirchandani.