CANTON, Mass., April 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- NEI (NASDAQ: NEI), a leading provider of application platforms, deployment solutions and lifecycle support services for software technology developers and OEMs worldwide, today announced that it will showcase its 380V DC-powered server platforms in cooperation with ABB and IO at  Automation & Power World, which takes place April 23-26, 2012 in Houston, Texas. NEI's platform solutions will be featured within the IO.Anywhere® Data Module, a fully integrated modular data center system powered by ABB's direct current technology that provides unprecedented flexibility, reliability, and energy efficiency.

As the demands on data centers increase, creating higher costs and power usage, the industry is looking for ways to increase efficiency and decrease operating costs. The concept of converting the power distribution configuration from alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) within the data center is gaining increasing acceptance. DC data center technology is more energy-efficient and safer to use than traditional AC technology. By trimming power conversion losses, DC technology can reduce energy costs by 10 percent or more. DC systems have also proven to cut infrastructure and equipment costs by as much as 30 percent.

Global power and automation leader ABB and data center operator and infrastructure provider IO are early adopters and innovators of 380V DC power in the data center, and recently announced a partnership to develop data center modules based on DC power. As a long-time supplier of DC server technology to the telecommunications market, NEI was able to leverage its engineering expertise and global manufacturing to bring off-the-shelf, COTS-based DC servers to the data center market. The company is committed to working in conjunction with market leaders such as ABB and IO to provide technology solutions and services that support the emerging 380V DC standard.

"There is no question that data center managers are taking 380V DC more seriously," said Rudy Kraus, CEO of Validus DC Systems, in which ABB holds a majority interest. "For 380V DC to become the mainstream power standard in data centers, equipment manufacturers must step up and provide the necessary compute and storage appliances to support high-voltage DC power in data centers. NEI has proven that it is committed to this, and we commend the company for it."

"IO is pleased to be able to offer our customers a choice inside the data center," said Andreas Zoll, vice president of engineering, IO. "Whether AC or DC power delivery, IO can address every customer requirement. We welcome NEI's efforts to expand the availability of 380V DC systems to data center managers worldwide."

NEI's platforms inside the IO.Anywhere Data Module will be showcased at Booth 20A during the show. For more information or to set up a technology briefing at the event, contact Jill Colna at jill.colna@svmpr.com.   

About NEI
NEI is a leading provider of server-based application platforms and lifecycle support services for software developers and OEMs worldwide. Through its expertise and comprehensive suite of solution design, system integration, application management, global logistics, support, and maintenance services, NEI is redefining application deployment solutions to provide customers with a sustainable competitive advantage. More than a decade of appliance innovation with the ability to provide physical, virtual and cloud-ready solutions makes NEI one of the most trusted software deployment partners in the industry. Founded in 1997, NEI is headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts, with facilities in Plano, Texas and Galway, Ireland, and trades on the NASDAQ exchange under the symbol NEI. For more information, visit www.nei.com.

About ABB
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 135,000 people.

About IO
IO designs, engineers and delivers data center infrastructure for the world's largest enterprises, governments and service providers. IO owns and operates data centers for hundreds of customers, and has leveraged this experience to build a next-generation Data Center 2.0 technology platform. IO.Anywhere modular data centers provide enterprise-class infrastructure that can be delivered as Data Center as a Service and rapidly deployed as a product to customer sites anywhere in the world. IO developed the first data center infrastructure operating system, IO.OS, to provide the intelligent control needed to maximize utilization, resiliency and energy efficiency. IO is a privately held company headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz. For more information on IO, please visit us on the web at io.com.

NEI and the NEI logo are trademarks of Network Engines, Inc. IO.Anywhere is a registered trademark of IO Data Centers, LLC. All other names, brands and trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

For additional information, contact:

Jill Colna or Laura Nelson
SVM Public Relations
401-490-9700
jill.colna@svmpr.com  
laura.nelson@svmpr.com

SOURCE NEI