The Airborne/ALS program eliminates the need for Digital's support personnel to manage the transportation portion of the repair equation, relieving them of logistical coordination so they can concentrate on diagnosis and computer repair.

Digital will continue to receive customer calls when equipment glitches arise. Once they determine that repairs are needed, technicians immediately involve ALS to coordinate the logistics of getting the equipment from the customer site to one of Digital's ServiCenters and back again.

ALS will coordinate time-intensive transportation details such as scheduling and confirming pickups or providing proper packaging to ship units safely.

ALS will also manage the information process, providing critical information such as the type and volume of units arriving at the repair center in Salem, N.H., and enabling Digital to accurately schedule technical support. Once units are returned to owners via Airborne, ALS reports the close of the transaction, so Digital can follow up with customers to ensure their satisfaction.

By accessing Airborne's centralized customer service network, its same-day delivery subsidiary Sky Courier and its Canadian service partner Purolator, Digital offers customers a seamless, value-added repair service that minimizes error and maximizes the individualized expertise of each and increases productivity, time and cost efficiencies.

Digital Equipment Corporation is the world's leader in open client/server solutions from personal computing to integrated worldwide information systems. Digital's scaleable Alpha AXP platforms, storage, networking, software and service, together with industry-focused solutions from business partners, help organizations compete and win in today's global marketplace.