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The Art of Listening: Dell Converts Customer Requests into Exclusive Vostro Brand for Small Business

Posted on: Tuesday, 10 July 2007, 12:22 CDT

Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) today extended its commitment to customers with a new brand of notebook and desktop computers designed for small businesses. The Vostro™ branded products feature no trialware and simple to use tools that address top-of-mind problems such as data back-up, PC performance and health, and specialized networking support for customers without dedicated IT staff.

The Vostro (Latin for "yours") product and services family is a milestone in the company's strategy to reduce the cost, time and complexity of managing information technology for customers of all sizes.

"For too long, entrepreneurs have been forced to fit either consumer or large corporate solutions into their unique environments," Dell Chairman and CEO Michael Dell told customers attending a "town hall" meeting today in New York. "Vostro changes the game for small-business owners by empowering them to choose the exact IT solutions they need to be successful."

Designed specifically for a simple network and businesses with fewer than 25 employees, Vostro offerings available today include:

Notebooks: Vostro 1000, 1400, 1500 and 1700 starting at $449;

Desktops: Vostro 200 mini-tower or slim-sized case starting at $319;

Printers: Dell 1320c Color Laser printer at $299; Dell 1125 Mono Laser at $249; and,

E198WFP 19-inch monitor at $229.

A performance desktop will be added to the Vostro lineup in late August. Detailed product information is available at www.dell.com/webelieve.

Small-Business Customers Have Been Heard

According to a 12-country survey of small-business owners and decision makers recently conducted by Dell and the International Council for Small Business, the No. 1 reason small businesses use technology is to better serve customers, yet 75 percent responded that budget constraints limit their ability to expand IT resources. When they do invest, products that are easy to use drive the decision followed by data management and security. Additionally, small-business owners around the world told Dell that:

They prefer simple solutions because they do not have full-time IT staff and are installing their most sophisticated IT products themselves;

Top IT pain points include managing costs of technology, product complexity that makes them too dependent on an outside company for support and trialware installed on new computers;

IT vendors should focus their resources in three areas: adequate technical support and service (rated No. 1 by 10 out of 12 countries), ensure data security and product reliability.

Significantly, small-business owners say they want the same thing: business-class offerings that are simple, less costly and backed by reliable service.

Customized, Automated, Easy-to-Use Tools

Regardless of geography, small businesses told Dell that tools to help accomplish common, time-consuming tasks associated with backing up data and optimizing system performance, and easy support options rank among their top IT needs. To address these needs, Vostro customers receive automated support tools customized for small business at no additional cost for the first year (minimal charges may apply in some countries).

The tools include Dell Automated PC Tune-Up, which reduces more than 30 tuning, performance, security and maintenance tasks to one click; Dell Network Assistant, which simplifies the set-up, monitoring, troubleshooting and repair of a customer's network; and Dell DataSafe Online for online backup of up to 10GB of user data and protects against data loss resulting from disasters, theft or damage.

All Vostro purchases are backed by the industry's best return policy -- a 30-day money back guarantee with no restocking fees or customer-paid shipping charges.

End-to-End Focus on Small Business

Dell has invested more than 35,000 person-hours in specialized sales, technical support and customer service to enhance the customer experience, as well as revitalized online resources and communities to help small-business owners get the most out of their IT experience. At www.dell.com/sb360, small businesses can find technology advice from Dell and partner experts, view video customer case studies and access community forums to discuss technology challenges and share best practices.

Enterprise-Class Solutions

As companies grow and require more sophisticated networks, Dell provides its Latitude™ notebooks and OptiPlex™ desktops with longer product life cycles to ease technology transitions. Dell can also serve as the single source for workstations, servers, storage systems, networking products, software, accessories, services and advice customers need to stay competitive.

About Dell

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ:DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services they trust and value. Uniquely enabled by its direct business model, Dell is a leading global systems and services company and No. 34 on the Fortune 500. For more information, visit www.dell.com, or to communicate directly with Dell via a variety of online channels, go to www.dell.com/conversations. To get Dell news direct, visit www.dell.com/RSS.

About ICSB

Founded in 1955, ICSB was the first international membership organization to promote the growth and development of small businesses worldwide. It accomplishes this through bringing together educators, researchers, policy makers and practitioners to share knowledge and experience in their respective fields. For more information, visit www.icsb.org, or to communicate directly with ICSB about their research on IT, go to www.icsb.org/IT.

Editor's Note: Visit www.dell.com/sbnews for product and services specifications, pricing, images, case studies and related information.

Pricing, specifications, availability, and terms of offers may change without notice. Taxes, fees and shipping charges are extra, and vary. Dell cannot be responsible for pricing or other errors, and reserves the right to cancel orders arising from such errors.

Dell is a trademark of Dell Inc.

Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.

Source: Business Wire

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