EMC reveals $40m Pentagon win and a sturdy 2003

EMC has followed up news yesterday about its software subsidiary Legato by revealing it has itself won a $40m contract from Pentagon modernisation organisation Penren.

The sum is almost 10 times as large as the earlier deal and covers networked storage hardware - both storage area networks (SANs) and network attached storage (NAS) - as well as business continuity and management software.

Penren plans to add to an impressive range of installed kit from the storage giant - more than one petabyte - with the goal of furthering its information lifecycle management (ILM) strategy.

Analyst house Ovum last week called ILM technology a "cult" in the second half of 2003, pointing out in a research note that it has "a long way to go before it becomes an accepted business tool".

Penren said it has experienced 200 per cent growth in storage needs in some areas.

EMC put out fourth quarter and full-year results today, with Q4 revenue up 25 per cent on the corresponding period a year ago, at $1.86bn. Full-year sales for 2003 were $6.24bn, up from $5.44bn in 2002. Profits came in at $496m compared to a loss of $119m a year earlier.