Pillar Extends Life of Cash for Clunkers for Storage Industry

Pillar Data Systems, the leading provider of Application-Aware storage systems, today launched the Cash for Storage Clunkers Program, offering cash incentives for trade-ins from older storage technologies to award-winning Pillar Axiom storage solutions. Working with Key Equipment Finance, one of the nation's largest bank-held equipment finance companies and an affiliate of KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY), users can rid themselves of outdated, oversized, underperforming and energy guzzling storage systems of any brand from any company.

"This type of program has been picking up steam in many industries, including the storage industry," said Simon Robinson, Storage Research Director, the 451 Group. "But vendors who will actually do what the federal government set out to do - remove old, energy-draining products and replace them with ones that are faster, cleaner and more efficient - is what will take us to the next level of storage efficiency."

The Cash for Storage Clunkers Program is an easy three step process. First, users submit basic information on existing storage equipment they'd like to trade-in. Second, a quote will typically be generated within 48 hours once the information is submitted. Third, quotes will be valid for up to 15 days and users will be able to track their trade-in status.

"The US government was definitely on to something and while many were hoping that program would last until early November, there's still time to get America's data systems moving again," said Bob Maness, Vice President, Worldwide Marketing and Channel Sales, Pillar Data Systems. "There's no reason why users shouldn't be able to move their data onto more efficient storage solutions without having to drain their budgets or be locked down by their existing leases or contracts. In addition to the cash trade-in, we have teamed up with Key Equipment Finance, a worldwide leader in technology financing, to provide storage consumers with an attractive financing alternative to the inefficient, cash-guzzling status quo."

To get a free quote, prospective customers just need to provide some basic information, including product type, manufacturer, model, condition and zip code of where the storage is located. Usually within 48 hours, they will receive a quote for the trade-in value of their current product(s).

"This creative program provides a great opportunity for companies of all types and sizes to make the switch to a more efficient storage solution," said Adam Warner, president of Key Equipment Finance. "With both a cash trade-in and flexible financing option, Pillar Data is making it easier than ever for users to obtain the company's storage solutions while adhering to strict budget requirements."

The Pillar Axiom is the only storage platform to differentiate performance based on application priority and delivers utilization rates of 80 percent, guaranteed. The Pillar Axiom has also proven to dramatically reduce floor space and energy demands and lower Total Cost of Ownership by up to 50 percent. Pillar Axiom supports the changing demands of the data center and delivers the absolute highest levels of storage efficiency.

All storage clunkers are eligible. Some additional terms and conditions may apply. For more details on the Pillar Cash for Storage Clunkers Program call 1-877-252-3706 or visit www.pillardata.com.

Tweet this: .@PillarData offering cash incentives for old clunkers to fuel adoption of efficient storage

About Pillar Data Systems

Founded in 2001, Pillar Data Systems develops Application-aware Storage systems for midsize and enterprise organizations. With the highest utilization rates in the storage industry, the Pillar Axiom solution is the most efficient storage system on the market today. The Pillar Axiom cuts administrative time and total cost of ownership by more than 50 percent as well as provides the only storage system that can differentiate services based on application priority. Designed from the ground up as the only true Application-aware Storage system, the Pillar Axiom allows users to match multiple application characteristics to the appropriate service levels within a single storage platform. Pillar Data Systems is privately funded by Tako Ventures, LLC, the venture arm of Larry Ellison. The company is headquartered at 2840 Junction Avenue, San Jose, California 95134. The company can be reached on the Web at http://www.pillardata.com, by phone at 408-503-4000 or by email at sales@pillardata.com.

About Key Equipment Finance

Key Equipment Finance is an affiliate of KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) and provides business-to-business equipment financing solutions to businesses of many types and sizes. The company focuses on four distinct markets:

-- businesses of all sizes in the U.S. (from small business to large corporate);

-- equipment manufacturers, distributors and value-added resellers worldwide;

-- federal, provincial, state and local governments as well as other public sector organizations; and

-- lease advisory services for larger structured equipment needs including single investor and leveraged leases, securitizations, and structured debt.

Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, Key Equipment Finance manages a $13.5 billion equipment portfolio with annual originations of approximately $5.0 billion. The company has major management and operations bases in Albany, New York; London, England; Hong Kong, China and Sydney, Australia. The company, which supports clients in over 40 countries, employs 800 people worldwide and has been in the equipment financing business for over 35 years. Additional information regarding Key Equipment Finance, its products and services can be obtained online at http://www.KEFonline.com.

Cleveland-based KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $98 billion. BusinessWeek Magazine named Key the top bank in its Customer Service Champ 2009 edition, ranking Key 11th out of the top-25 companies that include many known for their customer service acumen. Key companies provide investment management, retail and commercial banking, consumer finance, and investment banking products and services to individuals and companies throughout the United States and, for certain businesses, internationally. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/.

SOURCE: Pillar Data Systems

Pillar Data Systems 
Chris Drago, 408-518-4636 
Sr. Director of Corporate Communications 
cdrago@pillardata.com 
or 
Lois Paul & Partners 
Don Jennings, 781-782-5756 
don_jennings@lpp.com

Related terms: australia, bank, banking, budget, business, china, commercial, consumer, corporate, debt, email, energy, england, federal, finance, financial services, government, hong kong, investment, investment banking, local, london, magazine, manufacturer, marketing, new york, nyse, online, president, products, rates, retail, sales, small business, sydney, technology, track, trade