Wang Global Reaches Deal With Dell Computer Some Service, Support Work Will Be Handled In Spokane

Dell Computer Corp. has signed contracts with Unisys Corp. and Wang Global to provide worldwide service and support to Dell corporate customers, replacing Digital Equipment Corp.

Through the partnership, Dell - the world’s largest direct seller of personal computers - will be able to serve customers with an army of 25,000 engineers, technicians, analysts and consultants to help set up, run and maintain computer networks based on Dell products.

Wang Global was organized recently with the merger of Wang Laboratories Inc. and Olsy, which had its North American headquarters in Spokane.

A Wang spokeswoman said some Dell accounts would be serviced out of the Spokane center.

Since Dell nemesis Compaq Computer Corp. said in January it planned to buy Digital Equipment for $9.74 billion, Dell has been seeking to replace Digital as a computer service and support provider. Dell is now the only remaining large PC maker without an in-house services and support arm.

“Service is the new competitive battlefield in the information technology industry,” Chief Executive Michael Dell said.

As larger business customers boost the size of their computer networks, they want one-stop shopping for PCs, powerful server computers and also the consultants and technicians to install and maintain the machines.

International Business Machines Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co. already have such units, and Compaq bought DEC for its services division.