FRAMINGHAM, Mass.----IDC today announced plans for the inaugural IDC Enterprise Data Center Forum scheduled on June 18 at the Miyako Hotel in San Francisco, California. This one-day interactive Forum will offer attendees practical and actionable advice from IDC analysts, industry experts and their peers on how to create a denser, more consolidated, highly utilized, better designed, fully redundant and very dynamic data center.

“The U.S. data center is in the midst of a significant shift as evolving business models, growth plans and an ever-increasing competitive landscape require improved levels of flexibility and service within the IT infrastructure.” says Michelle Bailey, research vice president, Enterprise Platforms and Datacenter Trends at IDC. “To meet the challenges ahead, many data centers are laying out a new vision now, by condensing data center infrastructure with blades, virtualization technologies, multi-core design, and IT services that are specifically developed to drive new business. The Enterprise Data Center Forum offers a unique venue where senior IT, Facilities, and Operations executives will receive practical tools and strategies for transforming their data center to meet the needs of this changing business climate.”

The agenda will explore the impacts of emerging technology, spiking energy costs, and internet-based applications on the data center, as well as address key topics including: Virtualization, Blades, Real Estate, Power and Cooling, Staffing, and Business Processes.

The conference features a stellar line-up of speakers, including:

• Randy Allen, Corporate Vice President, Server and Workstation Business, AMD
• Michelle Bailey, Research Vice President, Enterprise Platforms and Datacenter Trends, IDC
• Doug Balog, Vice President and Business Line Executive, IBM BladeCenter
• Bradley Bishop, Senior Software Engineer, Chicago Board Options Exchange
• Bruce Cox, ETO - ECCM Director of Operations, Capital One
• William Cross, CIO, Seminole Electric Cooperative
• Matthew Eastwood, Program Vice President, Enterprise Platforms Group, IDC
• Paul Figliozzi, Chief Systems Architect, Hitachi America, Ltd.
• Jeffrey Gorby, Director of Enterprise Production Assurance, Nationwide Insurance
• Rich Lechner, Vice President, Virtualization, IBM Corporation
• Bob Petrowski, Director, Facility Administration, Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.
• Roland Risser, Director of Energy Efficiency, PG&E
• Doug Roberts, Manager, Systems Services, Hannaford Bros. Co.
• Tom Roberts, Director, Facilities Management and Capacity Planning, Trinity Health

Sponsors and Partners of the 2007 Enterprise Data Center Forum West include: IBM, AMD, Hitachi America, Blade.org, SNIA, Align Journal, Building Operating Management, Data Center Journal and InfoStor.

For more information or to register for the conference, please visit IDC’s Web site at http://www.idc.com/datacenter-west07. Complimentary press passes are available for qualified journalists. To request a press pass, please contact Dana Basilone at 508-988-6891 or dbasilone at idc.com.

About IDC

IDC is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 900 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 90 countries worldwide. For more than 43 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com.

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