AutoZone Chooses Red Hat Services to Support Intranet Applications
29 November 1999
AutoZone Chooses Red Hat Services to Support Linux-based Chain-wide Intranet Applications
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--Nov. 29, 1999--AutoZone, Inc. Implement Linux-based Intranet Terminals
Red Hat(R), Inc. , a leading developer and provider of open source software solutions, today announced that it will be providing on-site consulting, services and support to AutoZone as part of the auto parts retailer's program to base its chain-wide Intranet systems infrastructure on Red Hat Linux. As part of the agreement, Red Hat's services organization will provide consulting and support services for a network of approximately 3,000 Linux-based Intranet terminals in AutoZone's store locations throughout the United States.
"Red Hat Linux was the logicial choice for AutoZone's network because we require a cost-effective and highly reliable operating system that can be customized and upgraded easily," said Jon A. Bascom, Vice President of STS, Customer Satisfaction, AutoZone. "And just as important as the operating system itself is the consulting and support we need to implement and maintain this new IT infrastructure. We're confident that Red Hat's experienced support organization will help us realize the benefits we expect from Linux."
"AutoZone is continuing its tradition of innovation by adding Red Hat Linux to its retail business IT operations portfolio," said Teresa Spangler, Business Unit Leader, Sales, Red Hat, Inc. "By doing this, we believe AutoZone will realize performance, flexibility and reliability improvements. Red Hat will support this initiative for AutoZone, and we'll continue to service and support this operation as it grows."
About Red Hat Services
Red Hat's on-site consulting sets a new standard for enterprise-level support for Linux-based operating systems. With more than 350 expert consultants, Red Hat and its partners offer Red Hat Linux consulting services, including: on-site consulting; strategy formation; planning; evaluation; classification and organization; training; implementation; recurring operations and audit. Red Hat Linux-based enterprise IT operations can choose anything from initial installation help up to full, ongoing outsourced management of their complete Linux-based information management operation. Red Hat offers all the services needed to successfully install, integrate, manage and support open source solutions in today's rapidly growing enterprises. In recent months, Red Hat has greatly expanded its support offerings, including international training and certification for Red Hat Linux. In addition, Red Hat announced recently that Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation purchased support services from Red Hat for its nationwide Linux deployment.
Open Source Momentum
International Data Corp. (IDC) research states that Linux-based operating systems were the fastest-growing server operating environment in 1998, growing more than 190 percent in that year alone and capturing more than 15.8 percent of the 4.4 million revenue shipment server operating environment market. Red Hat's numerous alliances with industry leaders and the demand for Linux-based applications has created open source support from many of the industry's leading software and hardware manufacturers, including Compaq(R), Computer Associates, Corel, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Netscape, Novell, Oracle(R) and SAP(R). Red Hat Linux runs on Intel, Alpha and Sun SPARC platforms.
About AutoZone
AutoZone sells auto and light truck parts, chemicals and accessories through 2,711 AutoZone stores in 39 states in the U.S. and 6 AutoZone stores in Mexico. AutoZone also sells heavy-duty truck parts through 46 TruckPro stores in 14 states, automotive diagnostic and repair software through ALLDATA, and diagnostic and repair information through alldatadiy.com.
About Red Hat, Inc.
Founded in 1994, Red Hat is a market leader in open source operating system (OS) software and services. Along with its award-winning open source Red Hat Linux OS, Red Hat offers a full line of services, including telephone support, on-site consulting, developer training, certification programs and priority access updates, making Red Hat a leading and complete resource for knowledgeable, innovative, mission-critical open source solutions.
Red Hat shares all of its software innovations freely with the open source community under the GNU General Public License (GPL). The Official Red Hat Linux OS and related services are available directly from the company and through its partner, distributor and reseller programs, which include top PC and server manufacturers such as Compaq, Dell, Gateway, IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Silicon Graphics.
Red Hat and the Official Red Hat Linux OS have received industry praise. Recent accolades include: Red Herring's Top 100 Companies of the Electronic Economy, Upside's Hot 100 Companies, Network World's 10 Companies to Watch, Federal Computer Week's Government Best Buy, Software Development's Jolt Award and InfoWorld's Product of the Year for three years in a row. Red Hat was also voted a "Linux World Favorite" by the attendees of the two most recent Linux World Expos, winning Best Server Distribution at the August show.
Red Hat is based in Research Triangle Park, N.C. and has offices worldwide. Visit Red Hat on the Web at www.redhat.com. For investor inquiries, please contact Lippert/Heilshorn at (212) 838-3777.
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Forward-looking statements in this press release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release that are not strictly historical statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding current or future financial performance, management's plans and objectives for future operations, product plans and performance, management's assessment of market factors, and statements regarding the strategy and plans of Red Hat and its strategic partners, constitute forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks associated with Red Hat's dependence upon an open source business model, management of growth, reliance upon strategic relationships, expansion of Red Hat's business focus and operations to offer increased and enhanced services, the possibility of undetected software errors, the enforceability of the GNU General Public License and other licenses under which Red Hat's products are developed and licensed, the scarcity of Linux-based applications, the ability to attract and retain enterprise customers, and in Red Hat's industry specifically, the risks associated with competition and competitive pricing pressures, the viability of the Internet, year 2000 compliance efforts of Red Hat and of third parties on which Red Hat depends, and other risks detailed in Red Hat's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which may be accessed through the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.