HOUSTON - Compaq Computer Corp. announced Thursday it had signed a five-year multimillion-dollar contract to provide technology, services, and support to American Express Co.
The deal "reflects Compaq's overall strategy focused on provided integrated solutions," said Peter Blackmore, Compaq's executive vice president of worldwide sales and services.
He noted that Compaq has had a relationship with the credit card company for 10 years.
Compaq will deploy 25,000 "thin client" computers - supported by 400 Compaq ProLiant industry-standard servers - mostly in the United States but also in Europe, Asia, and South America. The computers will be paid for on a monthly, per-seat basis. It will also provide the design and management of the computers and servers.
The companies would not give the deal's dollar value but Mr. Blackmore said it is similar in size to the five-year, $95 million agreement Compaq signed with General Electric Aircraft Engines in October.
After the terrorist attacks, which forced American Express to abandon its headquarters in the World Financial Center, Compaq delivered about 2,000 T1010 Microsoft Windows-based thin clients to American Express offices in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to support relocated employees.
Compaq and Hewlett-Packard Co. announced in September that they had agreed to a merger that would create an $87 billion company.
