Unisys hosts official Rugby World Cup 2003 web site, to provide web hosting services to International Rugby Board for further three years
Announcement posted by Unisys 02 Oct 2003
Unisys Australia wins contract to host biggest sporting event web site this year, expects 4 million page impressions per hour during Rugby World Cup.
Unisys Australia today announced it has signed a contract to host the official Rugby World Cup 2003 web site and the other internet sites of the International Rugby Board until the end of 2006. The commercial contract agreement is separate and in addition to Unisys being the Official Supplier IT Services for Rugby World Cup 2003. The contract followed a closed tender process with the International Rugby Board (IRB).
The capacity of the site will allow more than four million web page impressions per hour during the 44-day tournament.
Unisys has built the infrastructure required to develop and host the official Rugby World Cup 2003 web site, and approached Microsoft Australia to develop the site to specifications laid down by the IRB. Unisys is also providing the web hosting services. The core of the Unisys-Microsoft platform is a combination of a Unisys ES7000 server featuring 16 Intel processors running Clustered SQL, SQL 2000 Enterprise, and Microsoft Content Management Services (MCMS) built on Microsoft Windows Server 2003. The Unisys-Microsoft platform has resulted in a preferred solution for the IRBs long-term development and hosting needs, and the more immediate needs of the vast audience expected during the Rugby World Cup tournament itself.
Rugby World Cup 2003 needs a resilient web site, supported by accountable services. We have delivered all these to the Rugby World Cup on time and on budget. The Unisys-Microsoft contribution to the success of the Rugby World Cup web site will be highly visible, with the clear business objectives and accountability that all organisations now demand from their technology suppliers, said Alan Smith, Marketing Director Unisys Australia-New Zealand
We were delighted to be selected by Unisys to provide them with Microsoft Australias expertise to contribute to the development of the official Rugby World Cup web site, said Microsoft Australias General Manager, Business and Marketing Operations, Mark Iles. This collaboration demonstrates the strength of the business relationship between Unisys and Microsoft, not only in Australia, but worldwide. We look forward to continuing to work with Unisys on the IRBs web sites after the Rugby World Cup, and on future projects.
The information available to users on the web site is linked to the tournament news and information system built by Unisys for Rugby World Cup 2003. As part of its role as Official Supplier IT Services, Unisys is providing systems integration services, infrastructure management and outsourcing as well as server technology. This will allow Unisys to provide real-time tournament information via media outlets and international media broadcasts and feeds, and now to the official Rugby World Cup 2003 web site.
The site takes information feeds from the official scorers who will provide real time information, scores and player statistics during each game. Some 20 editors will be working from 8am to midnight daily during the tournament itself. Other features of the Rugby World Cup 2003 web site include links to audiovisual sites managed by TWI International and run by Real Media.
A team of approximately 15 people will support site development and modification effort during the tournament.
From the end of the tournament, Unisys will continue to host IRB internet sites such as IRB Sevens and Under 21s, and will migrate this service to the United Kingdom in the New Year.
Visit the official Rugby World Cup 2003 web site at www.rugbyworldcup.com
About Unisys
Unisys is a worldwide information technology services and solutions company. Our people combine expertise in systems integration, outsourcing, infrastructure, server technology and consulting with precision thinking and relentless execution to help clients, in more than 100 countries, quickly and efficiently achieve competitive advantage. For more information, visit www.unisys.com.
The capacity of the site will allow more than four million web page impressions per hour during the 44-day tournament.
Unisys has built the infrastructure required to develop and host the official Rugby World Cup 2003 web site, and approached Microsoft Australia to develop the site to specifications laid down by the IRB. Unisys is also providing the web hosting services. The core of the Unisys-Microsoft platform is a combination of a Unisys ES7000 server featuring 16 Intel processors running Clustered SQL, SQL 2000 Enterprise, and Microsoft Content Management Services (MCMS) built on Microsoft Windows Server 2003. The Unisys-Microsoft platform has resulted in a preferred solution for the IRBs long-term development and hosting needs, and the more immediate needs of the vast audience expected during the Rugby World Cup tournament itself.
Rugby World Cup 2003 needs a resilient web site, supported by accountable services. We have delivered all these to the Rugby World Cup on time and on budget. The Unisys-Microsoft contribution to the success of the Rugby World Cup web site will be highly visible, with the clear business objectives and accountability that all organisations now demand from their technology suppliers, said Alan Smith, Marketing Director Unisys Australia-New Zealand
We were delighted to be selected by Unisys to provide them with Microsoft Australias expertise to contribute to the development of the official Rugby World Cup web site, said Microsoft Australias General Manager, Business and Marketing Operations, Mark Iles. This collaboration demonstrates the strength of the business relationship between Unisys and Microsoft, not only in Australia, but worldwide. We look forward to continuing to work with Unisys on the IRBs web sites after the Rugby World Cup, and on future projects.
The information available to users on the web site is linked to the tournament news and information system built by Unisys for Rugby World Cup 2003. As part of its role as Official Supplier IT Services, Unisys is providing systems integration services, infrastructure management and outsourcing as well as server technology. This will allow Unisys to provide real-time tournament information via media outlets and international media broadcasts and feeds, and now to the official Rugby World Cup 2003 web site.
The site takes information feeds from the official scorers who will provide real time information, scores and player statistics during each game. Some 20 editors will be working from 8am to midnight daily during the tournament itself. Other features of the Rugby World Cup 2003 web site include links to audiovisual sites managed by TWI International and run by Real Media.
A team of approximately 15 people will support site development and modification effort during the tournament.
From the end of the tournament, Unisys will continue to host IRB internet sites such as IRB Sevens and Under 21s, and will migrate this service to the United Kingdom in the New Year.
Visit the official Rugby World Cup 2003 web site at www.rugbyworldcup.com
About Unisys
Unisys is a worldwide information technology services and solutions company. Our people combine expertise in systems integration, outsourcing, infrastructure, server technology and consulting with precision thinking and relentless execution to help clients, in more than 100 countries, quickly and efficiently achieve competitive advantage. For more information, visit www.unisys.com.