Comdisco Inc, which has been promising to become a major player in the European disaster recovery business, has chosen Istel Plc’s Istel Failsafe Ltd as its partner to enter the UK. The Comdisco Disaster Recovery Services Inc subsidiary of the giant Rosemount, Illinois leasing company is merging its Recovery Operation Centres Ltd UK affiliate with Istel Failsafe to create a new Failsafe ROC Ltd company, which will provide disaster recovery and contingency planning services to more than 550 UK customers – and since Istel is bringing much more to the party to start with, the Redditch, Worcestershire computer and communications services company will have a controlling interest in the new firm, although the shareholdings will not be fixed for all time. The aim is for Failsafe ROC to play a major role in a planned pan-European disaster recovery network strategically positioned for the post-1992 market, with centres planned for the UK, France and West Germany. Istel Failsafe brings to the party a 3090-400E and a 3081. In June, Comdisco made its first European move, forming Ageris International SA as an equally-owned joint venture with Ageris SA, Paris (CI No 1,211), where disaster recovery services are offered on a 3090-200E and a VAX 8530.
