Dell Lowers Networking Costs for Customers with New PowerConnect Switches

Round Rock, Texas, January 7, 2004 /Wi-Fi Technology News/- Customers can now purchase Gigabit Ethernet switches from Dell for as little as $179, with the introduction of Dell's new PowerConnectTM 2600 product line.

Available immediately worldwide, the PowerConnect 2608, 2616 and 2624 unmanaged switches offer the performance needed by small and medium businesses, educational institutions and customers operating in remote offices. The switches, designed for file sharing and retrieving large multimedia files such as graphics and video from servers, are priced up to 70 percent less than comparable competitive products1 (http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/pressoffice/en/2004/2004_01_06_rr_000?c=us&l=en&s=corp#tn1).

Dell has also lowered the list price for its PowerConnect 5224 Layer 2 switch to less than $79 per port for managed Gigabit Ethernet connectivity.

"With today's announcement, Dell is enabling customers to invest in the technology required to keep up with increasing performance demands placed on their networks," said Sam Burd, general manager of Dell's networking business.

Burd also commented that with the continued convergence of bandwidth-intensive applications onto networks, customers are starting to invest in technologies such as Gigabit Ethernet to future-proof their networks. "Dell PowerConnect switches complement the Gigabit Ethernet2 technology already available in our business-class servers and desktop and notebook computers. Now customers can afford to take advantage of this performance from the wiring closet or data center all the way to the desktop," Burd concluded.

One customer, the Plano Independent School District (ISD) in suburban Dallas, currently uses more than 100 PowerConnect switches with Dell LatitudeTM notebooks and PowerEdgeTM servers to power educational applications throughout 70 locations including classrooms, outdoor learning and special program centers, administration buildings and service sites.

Dan Armstrong, director of technical services and support for Plano ISD, said that Dell switches support its increasing use of streaming video in the classroom. "We believe that technology can truly make a difference in how students and teachers learn and interact. Dell PowerConnect switches help ensure that we have high-performance, real-time connectivity in the classroom at a price point that is extremely compelling."

The PowerConnect 2608, 2616 and 2624 switches are available immediately for prices starting at $179, $239 and $429 respectively. The PowerConnect 5224 is available for $1,899. Dell also offers the PowerConnect 5212 for prices starting at $999 (3- http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/pressoffice/en/2004/2004_01_06_rr_000?c=us&l=en&s=corp#tn3).

For more information on Dell networking products and services, visit http://www.dell.com/networking.

About Dell

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) is a premier provider of products and services required for customers worldwide to build their information-technology and Internet infrastructures. Company revenue for the past four quarters totaled $39.7 billion. Dell, through its direct business model, designs, manufactures and customizes products and services to customer requirements, and offers an extensive selection of software and peripherals. Information on Dell and its products can be obtained at http://www.dell.com.