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| Customer Case Study | RadioShack 8/8/2005 RadioShack Saves Millions of Dollars by Choosing Windows over Linux RadioShack is one of the best-known electronics retailers in the world, with approximately 5,100 company-owned stores and 1,800 dealer-franchise locations that people turn to for batteries, toys, telephones, PCs, and more. However, the company's 11-year-old, UNIX-based point-of-sale systems had reached the end of their useful life and had to be updated. After an extensive evaluation in which RadioShack compared Windows® and Linux, the company selected Microsoft® Windows Server System™ and Windows XP Embedded because the platform offered lower long-term costs, less risk, better alignment with long-term technical strategy, stronger vendor support, and better use of existing development and IT operations skills. The company's move to Windows will reduce the number of servers in its stores by 50 percent and save millions of dollars in hardware, software, system management, and support costs. | |
Forth Worth, Texas-based RadioShack is the one of the largest retailers of electronics goods and services in the world, with nearly 7,000 company-owned and dealer stores, almost 100 RadioShack locations in Mexico, and more than 600 Sprint and SAM'S CLUB wireless kiosks. | RadioShack's aging point-of-sale (POS) environment had reached the end of its life cycle, leaving the company with three options: upgrade to a new version of UNIX, migrate to Linux, or switch to the Microsoft® Windows® platform. | An extensive evaluation led RadioShack to choose Microsoft Windows Server System™ integrated server software for its POS servers and Windows XP Embedded for its POS terminals and in-store kiosks. | - Cost of ownership is several million dollars less than Linux alternative
- 50 percent fewer servers to maintain
- Single remote management solution for servers and POS devices
- Improved security and reliability for entire POS environment
- Extended return on investment in POS application and terminals
| - Microsoft Windows XP Embedded
| "Windows Server System offered several advantages [over Linux], including the ability to consolidate our in-store servers by 50 percent—from 10,200 to 5,100—and a savings of several million dollars in hardware, software, systems management, and support costs." Ron Cook Vice President and Chief Technology Officer RadioShack |
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