Hitachi Data Systems is a leading suppler of storage hardware, software, and services. A wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT), Japan's largest electronics company, Hitachi Data Systems leverages global R&D resources to provide Application Optimized Storage™ solutions that help customers align their IT infrastructure with their business objectives, maximise their return on investment, and minimise their risk.

With continued emphasis on information as an enabler of competitive advantage, businesses demand the optimal means to store, access, secure, protect, and manage their data. As a Partner Beyond Technology, Hitachi Data Systems focuses on the customer’s perspective to uniquely satisfy business needs with industry-leading storage products, a comprehensive portfolio of professional services and industry solutions, and a worldwide network of strategic partners.

With approximately 3,000 employees, Hitachi Data Systems conducts business through direct sales and resellers in the public, government, and private sectors in more than 170 countries and regions. Its customers include more than half of the Fortune 100. In EMEA, Hitachi Data Systems has operations in 70 countries and a customer base of more than 2,700, including 200 new customers added in 2004.

Hitachi, Ltd., which is currently No. 23 in the Fortune Global 500 list, manufactures more than 20,000 products and has 985 subsidiaries, with more than 300,000 employees.  In FY2004, the company achieved sales of US$84.4 billion and invested more than US$3 billion in research and development. In this same fiscal year, the Hitachi SAN/NAS Solutions Division, which includes Hitachi Data Systems, had US$2.5 billion in revenue.

Hitachi Data Systems is a clear leader in the high-end storage systems market, having introduced innovative products over the last five years to meet customer's most pressing needs for performance, availability, ease of management, and simplification, while reducing total cost of ownership. Hitachi Data Systems continues to accelerate storage software revenue, growing 25 percent over the last year while the industry grew 15 percent, according to IDC. Rapid market-share growth of the company’s modular storage family and its award-winning channel partnership programme have also made Hitachi Data Systems an important force in the midrange storage market.