Conference 7.286::digital

2064.0. "News article in the Boston Herald" by CASDOC::MEAGHER (Term limits for Bush & Quayle) Fri Aug 21 1992 12:55

Remember that infamous internal memo that circulated a couple of months ago
mentioning some deal that Digital was working on with the U.S. government? The
memo was leaked to the media and the company indignantly denied the rumors,
etc. Does the following story bring that memo to mind?

DEC pact could yield up to $175M in revenues
--------------------------------------------
by Michael E. Knell, Boston Herald, August 21, 1992

"Digital Equipment Corp. yesterday announced a pact intended to grease the
skids for government sales, a deal that could boost revenues when they are
needed most.

"The Maynard-based company, which reported a $1.8 billion loss last quarter
amid plans to lay off thousands, stands to reap between $50 million and $175
million next year from the arrangement with the U.S. General Services
Administration, analysts said.

" 'I think this is a real sleeper of an announcement,' said Peter Kastner of
the Aberdeen Group in Boston. 'As in any business, by making it easier to buy,
you'll likely increase revenue.'

"The deal permits purchase of Digital personal computers and PC services with a
phone call to the company's Desktop Direct. And services--where there is less
discounting--may prove the more important part of the contract, Kastner said.

"Previously, individual contracts had to be negotiated for each purchase, which
took months or even years."

(The article goes on for 6 more paragraphs.)

    This particular deal with with the Federal Government General Services
    Administration is completely unrelated to the rumored contract with
    the Department of Defense that was going around the net two months ago.
    
    The Standard Purchasing Contract with GSA allows any Federal agency to
    buy DEC PC's and related gear through the GSA catalogue at a uniform
    set of terms and conditions.  These contracts usually run for many
    years, once they are established.  That $175MM is the estimated sales
    over the life of the contract.

I wish people who suspect criminal activity would take their suspicions
to their local district attorney...and if they don't have any thing
worthy of passing on to the DA they shouldn't imply in a public forum
that such criminal activity took place. 

Topics like this are a good way to get ::DIGITAL shut down.

John

>>> I wish people who suspect criminal activity would take their suspicions
>>> to their local district attorney...and if they don't have any thing
>>> worthy of passing on to the DA they shouldn't imply in a public forum
>>> that such criminal activity took place. 

What are you talking about? The article didn't mention any criminal activity. I
didn't refer to criminal activity (or even think about it). If you're talking
about the memo I mentioned, that didn't discuss or even hint about criminal
activity either.

Vicki Meagher

    
    Aha! Now we are really getting somewhere!
    
    We've been living in a fools paranoid!