Dell, Intel and Microsoft today revealed a menage a trois to expand Dell E Works.

The service is aiming to add corporate customers to the e-commerce service - which was previously aimed at smes - through Dell hardware, Intel chips and Microsoft software.

It has also added a leasing facility for start-ups to buy hardware and an Internet infrastructure fund for post IPO businesses.

Dell says the service, which was launched in February, has more than 8,000 customers signed up.

All eyes will be on Dell later today as it is expected to report its second quarter results after the close of the US market. Investors and analysts alike will be scrutinising the previous golden boy of the PC industry which last year saw sales and profit growth top 40 per cent.

Analysts expect the direct PC seller to report earnings of 21 cents a share, up 11 per cent on the previous year, with sales up 30 per cent to $7.9 billion. ®

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