Intel executives concede the point. Exodus Communications Inc. With more than 1,700 customers and 19 data centers, Exodus says it's not concerned about the brawny newcomer. He says Intel's cash reserves won't make up for lack of experience as a service provider. Intel also doesn't seem to have worked through all the issues involved in maintaining data its customers' depend on. For instance, it hasn't set up a fully mirrored remote site where its users' hosted data is backed up in real time.
Customers admit that's troubling.
But I don't think they're there yet. Despite the challenges, Intel says the technologies and processes it developed in building its own E-commerce network will readily transfer to a services business. From the standpoint of creating server farms, they have more than enough talent to do so successfully. When rivals such as Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and Cyrix Corp. appeared, Intel responded with its own low-cost chips.