Intel To Global 500: Test-Drive An Itanium 2

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based chip maker said it will target Global 500 customers that currently use RISC-based systems. Under terms of the offering, end users will "will have access to Itanium 2-based systems and services for up to 90 days to evaluate the results," Intel said in a statement.

The systems and service would be offered through major vendors, including IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Unisys, as well as regional system builders, Intel said.

In addition, Intel, which has been aggressively courting software vendors for its 64-bit platform, said it would partner with ISVs including BEA Systems, i2, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP and SAS and system integrators such as Avanade, in the trial offering.

Executives at Intel, which launched the Itanium processor family more than two years ago, said sales of the Itanium 2 began moving more briskly to market earlier this year. The company is forecasting it will ship 100,000 Itanium 2 units for the entire year 2003.

Executives at the company also said the processor is, more often than not, supplanting existing, legacy 64-bit solutions than 32-bit systems when it is installed.

The try-it-for-90-days program, officially dubbed "The Intel Itanium 2 Solution Challenge," will be available through summer 2004, the company said.

Increased sales of the Itanium 2 processor are strategic to Intel's ability to maintain a higher gross margin percentage. The 64-bit processors are the highest priced in Intel's lineup, ranging from $744 to $4,227 in 1,000-unit orders.