Optima, HP & Apple share $16m in notebook deal

Stan Beer
Thursday, 22 September 2005 11:00

IT Industry - Deals

PC vendors, Optima Technology Solutions (ASX:OPI), HP and Apple have won a share of the spoils to supply notebook computers to the New South Wales Department of Education and Training for a $16 million project to integrate learning technologies into classrooms.

Exact notebook allocation to the successful vendors has yet to be finalised. The notebooks will be delivered to government schools throughout New South Wales, further complementing the 5,000 desktop and notebook computers that Optima has already supplied the region under the initial phase of the T4L roll out.
 
The DET tender was open to all ITS2000 NSW Government suppliers, and Optima was selected based on its ability to back its hardware with an affordable and comprehensive range of services, training and technical support, according to Optima
 
“Earlier this year, Optima supplied us with range of desktop computers for our T4L roll out across the Hunter and Central Coast region,” said Garth Newton, acting Deputy CIO, New South Wales Department of Education and Training. “Meeting strict project deadlines, Optima was able to deliver all PCs and support services on time and to our satisfaction.
 
“Having selected Optima as one of our notebook suppliers, we expect that it will meet these same high standards.”
 
The notebook selected for the deployment is the Optima Centoris G300 Series that features the latest Intel Centrino Mobile Technology, including a Mobile Intel 915 Express Chipset and tri-mode wireless access. The notebooks come with a four-year onsite warranty and will be rolled out across the state at the beginning of January 2006.

“We’ve gained great momentum in the local government space, winning a number of key contracts over the past few months,” said Cornel Ung, managing director and executive chairman, Optima Technology Solutions. “Our success lies in our ability to support our industry leading hardware with a complete range of customised services, which we deliver in a timely and cost effective manner.”
 
To accompany the roll out, Optima has partnered with Cisco, Microsoft and NSW DET to develop a training program for teachers, principals and IT professionals throughout the region called ‘Tools for Technology’.  The workshop will provide teaching professionals with the knowledge they need to maximise IT infrastructure and effectively use educational technology in the classroom.