MUNICH, GERMANY--(Marketwire - November 18, 2009) - VISIT IT Forum -- Fujitsu and NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP) today announced their intention to deepen their partnership globally and provide more tightly integrated and automated storage and data management solutions. Leveraging each other's expertise, the companies intend to jointly develop integrated products and services specifically in the areas of virtualization, storage and data management, and storage services and solutions. This expanded relationship will enable customers to derive greater value and efficiencies from their dynamic infrastructures.

"Standardization, virtualization and efficiency are driving customers to rapidly change the way their data centers are designed and managed," said Roger Cox, Research Vice President at Gartner, Inc. "Increasingly, they are looking to best of breed vendors to supply the infrastructure and services for their data centers."

Fujitsu and NetApp already have a proven track record of providing customers with best in class products and solutions and a shared vision of the data center of the future. Today's announcement serves to underline the synergies customers can expect from both in extended product development, integration and a joint go-to-market relationship.

"As IT departments look for ways to be more cost and operationally efficient, customer buying patterns are shifting toward vendors with a more holistic and collaborative approach to addressing their data center needs," said Tom Georgens, president and CEO of NetApp. "We believe this expanded relationship with Fujitsu will provide customers with more tightly integrated and automated data management solutions from an industry leading partnership."

"We introduced our Dynamic Infrastructures portfolio a year ago as the cornerstone of Fujitsu's global IT portfolio," said Kai Flore, President & CEO at Fujitsu Technology Solutions. "NetApp's strengths in unified storage align perfectly with our high-quality, high-performance and highly reliable ETERNUS SAN and storage software, creating a joint comprehensive storage portfolio to meet customers' every need."

Increased productivity and operational efficiency
The companies are currently working to integrate NetApp's storage management software into Fujitsu's comprehensive resource management framework. The framework dynamically orchestrates servers, networks, storage and software into logical system platforms to run applications on demand. It also enables easier administration of data center environments, allows single console management of the entire infrastructure, and increases productivity and operational efficiency through ease of use.

Integrating superior technology
By combining best of breed products and solutions from both companies, customers can reduce their capital expenditures, leverage their current operational experience and benefit from the integrated offerings of two leading IT vendors. The companies also announced their intention to implement a global, joint go-to-market strategy involving complementary products.

The companies also announced the full integration of NetApp V-series with Fujitsu ETERNUS. This joint solution is expected to provide customers with management and efficiency benefits and increased functionality that cannot be derived from any other solution on the market today. It will enable customers to preserve their current investments with virtually no disruption to their operations. The first deployment of a full integration of Fujitsu's high-performance ETERNUS DX400 with NetApp's industry-leading V-Series products has already provided a public sector customer with measurable benefits as part of a full IT services outsourcing contract.

Advanced services
Giving customers and partners from both companies access to a broad range of best in class storage experts and professional services consultants from NetApp as well as Fujitsu is a vital element of the enhanced global partnership. The companies also disclosed today, that they intend to develop and offer a joint portfolio of advanced services including consulting, professional services, managed storage services and maintenance services. To deliver this service portfolio the companies will leverage from a team of NetApp and Fujitsu certified storage professionals and global service delivery capabilities for Dynamic Infrastructures.

About Fujitsu
Fujitsu is a leading provider of IT-based business solutions for the global marketplace. With approximately 175,000 employees supporting customers in 70 countries, Fujitsu combines a worldwide corps of systems and services experts with highly reliable computing and communications products and advanced microelectronics to deliver added value to customers. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.6 trillion yen (US$47 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009. For more information, please see: www.fujitsu.com.

About Fujitsu Technology Solutions
Fujitsu Technology Solutions is the leading European IT infrastructure provider with a presence in all key markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, plus India, serving large-, medium- and small-sized companies as well as consumers. With its Dynamic Infrastructures approach, the company offers a full portfolio of IT products, solutions and services, ranging from clients to datacenter solutions, Managed Infrastructure and Infrastructure-as-a-Service. Fujitsu Technology Solutions employs more than 10,000 people and is part of the global Fujitsu Group. For more information, please see: ts.fujitsu.com/aboutus.

About NetApp
NetApp creates innovative storage and data management solutions that accelerate business breakthroughs and achieve outstanding cost efficiency. Discover our passion for helping companies around the world go further, faster at www.netapp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent NetApp's beliefs regarding future events, many of which are, by their nature, inherently uncertain and outside NetApp's control. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding NetApp's market opportunities and competitive strengths as well as its strategies, plans, and objectives and other statements that are not historical facts.

NetApp cautions readers that the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated by such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include the adverse global economic and market conditions, risks associated with the anticipated growth in network storage and content delivery markets, NetApp's ability to deliver new product architectures and enterprise service offerings, and other important factors as described in NetApp's reports and documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. NetApp disclaims any obligation to update and revise the forward-looking statements contained in these materials based on new information or otherwise.