$10 million Unisys desktop services agreement bolsters Redbook Florist's push for new members.BLUE BELL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 12, 1996--Unisys Corp. Tuesday announced that it has received a three-year, $10.6 million contract from Redbook Florist Services for Unisys desktop services, personal computers and printers. This new relationship will help Redbook, which provides on-line electronic commerce services for 15,000 florists nationwide, to expand its base of affiliates by making it easy and affordable for small florists to access Redbook's state-of-the-art TERRAsys electronic services network. Under the arrangement, Redbook Florist will market fully configured con·fig·ure tr.v. con·fig·ured, con·fig·ur·ing, con·fig·ures To design, arrange, set up, or shape with a view to specific applications or uses: Unisys PCs, printers, installation and warranty services -- all for a single price -- to florists nationwide, and will route customer orders to Unisys Global Customer Services for fulfillment. Unisys will configure and test the PCs with TERRAsys and third-party software; ship, install and start the systems at subscriber locations; and provide on-site warranty services for three years. Unisys will install systems at customer sites within 10 days of receiving an order. "Redbook Florist selected Unisys for its unique ability to provide a total package of quality services and affordable systems nationwide without the use of subcontractors and resellers," said David Sluder, executive vice president of Customer Relations, Redbook Florist Services. "Redbook's aim is to make it as easy and cost effective as possible for florists to connect with and use the TERRAsys network. With its proven services expertise, Unisys figures prominently in this strategy, for we are relying on them to deliver quality service and reliable systems quickly and professionally." Unisys Services, Products Optimize Redbook's TERRAsys Network Previously, Redbook marketed another manufacturer's PCs from a value-added reseller A value-added reseller (VAR) is a company that adds some feature(s) to an existing product(s), then resells it (usually to end-users) as an integrated product or complete "turn-key" solution. who subcontracted sub·con·tract n. A contract that assigns some of the obligations of a prior contract to another party. intr. & tr.v. sub·con·tract·ed, sub·con·tract·ing, sub·con·tracts the setup and installation services to other vendors. This multicompany arrangement proved difficult to manage. In Unisys, Redbook has a single source for the requisite services and systems. Florists use the TERRAsys network to place and receive orders from other affiliated florists around the country. Access requires a Windows-based PC, TERRAsys software and a modem. Redbook's strategy is to encourage florists to join the affiliate network An affiliate network acts as an intermediary between publishers (affiliates) and (merchant) affiliate programs. It allows publishers to find affiliate programs, which are suitable for their website and it helps websites offering affiliate programs reach its target audience. by offering them a simple, affordable solution for acquiring and supporting appropriately configured PCs to connect with the TERRAsys network. Redbook is offering three standard system configurations based on Unisys PW2 Advantage Series PCs featuring Intel Corporation's 486 and Pentium processors. Each system includes TERRAsys application software, Microsoft Windows See Windows. (operating system) Microsoft Windows - Microsoft's proprietary window system and user interface software released in 1985 to run on top of MS-DOS. Widely criticised for being too slow (hence "Windoze", "Microsloth Windows") on the machines available then. 95 operating system operating system (OS) Software that controls the operation of a computer, directs the input and output of data, keeps track of files, and controls the processing of computer programs. software, a color monitor See monitor. , CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). player, hard drive, memory, modem and keyboard. Prices range from $2,375 to $3,029 and include Unisys configuration, shipping, installation and three-year on-site warranty services. About Redbook Florist Redbook Florist Services is a national flowers-by-wire company based in Paragould, Arkansas Paragould is a city in Greene County, Arkansas, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 23,775. ranking it as the state's 17th largest city, behind Russellville. . The multifaceted mul·ti·fac·et·ed adj. Having many facets or aspects. See Synonyms at versatile. Adj. 1. multifaceted - having many aspects; "a many-sided subject"; "a multifaceted undertaking"; "multifarious interests"; "the multifarious company provides a wide variety of services to more than 15,000 subscribing retail florist, including guaranteed delivery of floral orders, credit card clearing, short-term business loans, educational programs, customized printing, and electronic order-sending capabilities through the revolutionary TERRAsys network. Future plans for the network include expansion from the retail branch of the industry to include wholesalers, growers, and suppliers, as Redbook continues to pursue its goal of improving the industry as a whole. Unisys Global Customer Services Unisys Global Customer Services (GCS GCS Glasgow Coma Scale GCS Guilford County Schools (North Carolina) GCS Ground Control Station GCS Grand Central Station GCS Ground Control System GCS Ground Combat Systems GCS Group Communication Systems ) is one of Unisys three business units, providing comprehensive services and best-of- breed products in support of distributed computing environments See DCE. Distributed Computing Environment - (DCE) An architecture consisting of standard programming interfaces, conventions and server functionalities (e.g. naming, distributed file system, remote procedure call) for distributing applications transparently across networks worldwide. GCS offers broad multivendor technical and project management skills for integrating and supporting open network and desktop solutions, with emphasis on maximizing system availability, reducing costs and improving end-user productivity. Unisys -- The information management company As an information management company, Unisys acts as a solutions and systems integrator for business and government, complementing those integration skills with a full range of consulting and implementation services, information technology and vertical industry expertise. The company's perspective extends beyond supplying technology to delivering comprehensive information management solutions. Access the Unisys home page on the World Wide Web -- http://www.unisys.com -- for further information. -0- Unisys is a registered trademark and PW2 is a trademark of Unisys Corp. Digital is a registered trademark of Digital Equipment Corp. Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corp. Microsoft, MS-DOS MS-DOS in full Microsoft Disk Operating System Operating system for personal computers. MS-DOS was based on DOS, developed in 1980 by Seattle Computer Products. Microsoft Corp. bought the rights to DOS in 1981, and released MS-DOS with IBM's PC that year. and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. TERRAsys is a trademark of Redbook Florist Services. All other brands and products reference herein are acknowledged to be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. CONTACT: Unisys Corp., Blue Bell Pete Cavanaugh, 215-986-7884 Internet: cavanaug@po7.bb.unisys.com or Redbook Florist Services David Sluder, 800/643-0100 |
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