The next logical step in this evolution was presented at VISIT 2008, with Dynamic Infrastructures. The experience and know-how Fujitsu Siemens Computers has gained, through delivering hundreds of infrastructure solutions and managing the increasingly complex infrastructures of our customers, has led the company to the conclusion that no one IT infrastructure fits to all. Dynamic Infrastructures provides customers with a choice of infrastructure delivery models which best fit to their needs: including products and services, packaged solutions, managed infrastructures and additionally "Infrastructure-as-a-Service".

Kai Flore, CEO & President of Fujitsu Siemens Computers, stated: "Companies have created offerings for their customers built upon a foundation of IT and the increasing capabilities made possible by IT. These are offerings that drive their competitive edge. This is why IT is becoming far more complex and far more integral to business operations."

However, customers don't necessarily want to be managing that complexity themselves, they are looking for a company who can work with them to put the right infrastructure building blocks in place and who can support them in managing that infrastructure, at a level with which they are comfortable.

In a panel discussion round with executives from the company, Fujitsu Siemens Computers shared the company's strategic direction and the background for this evolution. Dr. Joseph Reger, Chief Technology Officer, stated: "Our customers want to be able to use their current IT resources in a more flexible and adaptable way to capitalize on the investments that they have already made. This is why we are offering Dynamic Infrastructures: the key is its flexibility. Using our expertise and experience with our products and services and by building and managing the combination of these offerings, we can help customers decide which IT infrastructure complexity and delivery model is best for them."

Information Technology needs to become more convenient for companies, a reliable resource to draw from as and when it is needed. And this is why the IT business model is simultaneously changing. Richard Schlauri, Executive Vice President Infrastructure Services, explained further: "Customers want the flexibility to be able to pay for what they use, increase demand when they need it and reduce it when they don't. So the 'way' in which IT is delivered and the way in which it is purchased and managed are also changing."

Dynamic Infrastructures opens up new ways of optimization, allowing customers to use IT depending on their particular needs, means and skills. Companies can concentrate on their core business, whilst enjoying the benefits of efficiency and reduced financial risk of capital investment. Dieter Herzog, Executive Vice President Infrastructure Products, added: "Customers can redefine to what depth they consider information technology as their core competence and to what level they want to involve their strategic partners in their IT. As a result, new delivery models, such as 'Infrastructure as a Service' (IaaS) are very attractive to many customers and constitute an important development in the direction of the whole IT infrastructure."

Dr. Reger concluded: "We are transforming our company into a complete IT infrastructure provider - our know-how and experience through our products, services, solutions and through managing the combination of these offerings means that we can help customers to decide which IT infrastructure is best for them."

Based on the company's experience with clients, virtual client infrastructure solutions, managed client services and managed data center services, Fujitsu Siemens Computers is showing the first example of its "Workplace-as-a-Service" (WaaS) offering at VISIT 2008. With "Workplace-as-a-Service", PC images are turned into virtual machines, which run wherever a hosting service is available.

Using Workplace-as-a-Service customers minimize capital expenditure, because no investment in a client infrastructure needs to be made. The customer is only charged for what has been used. From a customer's perspective, the infrastructure is infinite: new users can get their workplaces as a service in the twinkling of an eye at a fixed service level agreement. As the infrastructure is shared with a large number of other users, customers can leverage Fujitsu Siemens Computers' investment and expertise. A smooth migration combined with a free trial makes the step to Workplace-as-a-Service very attractive to customers, and means an extremely low barrier to entry.

Successful pilot projects in this area are already running and additional customer and partner reactions and feedback at VISIT will provide valuable input for the development of this and other future IaaS offerings for the office and the data centre. An announcement regarding this offering is expected to be made in 2009.