News

Japanese convenience chain to build Linux system

April 21, 2002

ARMONK, N.Y. - IBM today announced that Lawson Inc., a major Japanese convenience store chain, will install more than 15,000 IBM eServer xSeries servers, running Linux. According to IBM, when the systems are deployed in March 2001, it will be one of the largest IBM Linux -based installations to date.

Lawson plans to install two IBM xSeries servers at each of its 7,600 stores in Japan. The installations will be managed remotely, allowing store employees to concentrate on their own sales operations.

The IBM eServer xSeries will allow Lawson customers to download music, movies and other Web content from multimedia terminals throughout its stores. The terminals also will provide information collected from Internet feeds and communications satellites. The existing terminals at Lawson stores allow customers to book airline reservations and order concert tickets.

The Lawson multimedia terminals currently run Microsoft Windows. The additional functionality, provided by the IBM eServer systems running Linux, will allow future multimedia upgrades in real time, based on customer demand.