T-Platforms and Microsoft have announced opening of a joint Competency Centre for HPC (High Performance Computing). The Centre’s primary goal is to provide users with a unique service package by two leading companies of the Russian HPC industry as part of the joint program for academic and commercial organizations. The opening of Competency Centre was announced at the official event dedicated to Windows HPC Server 2008 launch in Russia. In Competency Centre the users will be able to test performance of software packages on the new platform for clustered systems Windows HPC Server 2008, decide on practicability of purchasing it, and get comprehensive expert support for porting and adaptation of application packages. T-Platforms computing systems built on the cutting-edge technology will be used as hardware resources for testing performance of software applications. "Microsoft platform for HPC has such advantages as easy setup and usage, seamless integration with existing infrastructure, a rich set of program development and result visualization tools, said Leonid Klyuyev, HPC business development manager for Central and Eastern Europe. We are happy that cooperation with T-Platforms helped us create competency center where all users of cluster systems will be able to appraise complete platform functionality with the maximum workloads". In the framework of the joint program, until January 30, 2009 customers will be able to purchase Windows HPC Server 2008 licenses at special prices and with unlimited validity. When purchasing T-Platforms computing systems with Windows HPC Server 2008, customers get a set of free services: Competence Centre experts consult on using Windows HPC Server 2008, assist in user application deployment and performance optimization for application software packages. Competency Centre also trains any number of customer’s specialists to work with Windows HPC Server 2008. The training is customized according to the results of roundtable sessions organized to find out individual customer’s needs. In addition, experts organize workshops for installation of the new platform at the customer’s place. “We are delighted to say that cooperation between T-Platforms and Microsoft will extend capabilities of our customers in estimation of software package performance and in selection of a high performance computing platform”, T-Platforms Commercial Director Mikhail Kozhevnikov said commenting on the opening of joint Competency Centre.