Optimus' prime deals make for a good year

"Our strategy will be based on two fields. They will be individual clients and large IT projects," the president of Optimus, Michał Lorenc, said.

"We plan to become a supplier of products and complex system solutions," he added.

The president also said that Optimus will supply IT equipment for the education sector within the agreement signed by the Ministry of Education and Comarch. More than 20,000 computers worth zł.60 million will be supplied to over 1,000 schools in Central Poland. He disclosed that on large projects the company will cooperate with its strategic partner, as Optimus has signed a letter of intention with Siemens' Software Development Center. The two companies will offer custom-made solutions for business. As for individual clients, Optimus will focus on producing portable electronic equipment, such as MP3 players, and carry out its 'digital home' project.

Lorenc denied speculation that Optimus will pull out of producing computers. "We will keep on producing computers so long as it will be profitable," he said.

Optimus hopes that the education contracts (another tender is being prepared) will help it bounce back from a poor first half of the year. In H1 2005 it had a net loss of zł.2.66 million in comparison to a profit of zł.2.46 million in the corresponding period of 2004. However, company officials claim that they will finish the year with a positive result. Optimus plans to sell 70,000-100,000 computers this year, more than the 2004 result of 64,000.