Compaq Computer (CPQ) and NetCentric have
teamed up to offer a hardware and software bundle for Internet service
providers.
Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly invest, develop, and market value-added services for the ISP segment. Compaq will combine its industry-leading ProLiant Intel-based servers with NetCentric's POPware, a Point-of-Presence software package that offers features such as Internet-based fax capabilities.
Compaq has also purchased a minority stake in NetCentric, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based start-up. The agreement is the latest move by Compaq in its strategy to challenge Unix-based Internet server players such as Sun Microsystems and Hewlett-Packard.
POPware is a software suite that offers Internet-based multimedia services.