Multinational computer technology specialist Dell has announced it is now accepting bitcoin through a partnership with Coinbase.
With annual revenue approaching $57bn, Dell is roughly four times the size of DISH Network – the previous biggest bitcoin-accepting business.
Following today’s announcement, consumers and small business owners are able to purchase all items on Dell.com using bitcoin. To promote the news, the company is offering a 10% discount on all Alienware-brand products to bitcoin buyers. Dell also sells personal computers, servers, data storage devices, cameras and printers.
In a blog post on the announcement, Coinbase indicated that Dell is seeking to provide customers with greater payment flexibility. Once the decision to accept bitcoin was reached, the company moved quickly – implementing payments on the site in just two weeks. Dell CIO Paul Walsh said:
“It is always our goal to respond quickly to our customers and ensure their needs are met. Partnering with Coinbase to implement this solution in 14 days is a prime example of the new, more agile Dell.”
The official announcement was released on Twitter by Dell’s CEO and board of directors chairman Michael Dell.
Dell founded the company at 19 and quickly grew the business into a Fortune 500 company, becoming one of the youngest CEOs to make the list at the time. Dell is now the third largest private company in America.
Dell is now the world’s largest ecommerce business to accept #bitcoin http://t.co/xC41rKTYXi http://t.co/0YqPK7MfVG — Michael Dell (@MichaelDell) July 18, 2014
Dell’s announcement comes amid a boom in the number of major businesses that have opted to accept bitcoin through Coinbase. Notably, Dell is now the largest merchant in the bitcoin space by annual revenue.
Coinbase added the previous largest merchant to the bitcoin ecosystem in late May, when it announced that Colorado-based satellite TV provider DISH Network would add bitcoin payments. DISH has an annual revenue approaching $14bn per year.
The California-based company followed up this announcement by revealing that online travel booking giant Expedia and gift e-tailer 1-800-Flowers.com would accept bitcoin in June and July, respectively.
Dell image via Hadrian / Shutterstock.com
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Original author: Pete Rizzo
