Dell rides bus for business push

Dell Computer is taking its pitch to small and medium-sized businesses on the road. On Thursday, the Round Rock, Texas-based computer company launched what it calls the 2003 Dell Total Business Tour, which involves taking an 18-wheel mobile showroom to 38 U.S. cities. Customers will be able to step inside the truck and meet with experts to discuss topics ranging from the benefits of mobile computing and wireless networks to the savings that businesses can anticipate from consolidating their server and storage systems, Dell said.

The tour will feature Dell products, as well as technologies from semiconductor company Intel and information storage technology company EMC. Dell cited a prediction from market research firm IDC that companies with fewer than 1,000 employees will account for 53 percent of the growth in IT spending this year.