ASCEND LAUNCHES MAJOR SERVICE INITIATIVE FOR CORPORATE AMERICA, CHANNEL PARTNERS AND END-USERS IN NORTH AMERICA; Teams with IBM to Provide Comprehensive and Seamless Support.ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 1996--Ascend Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :ASND ASND A Streetcar Named Desire (play) ) today announced that it has launched the most comprehensive service initiative in the company's history aimed at supporting its entire North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. corporate customer base. The announcement, which also is available to any of Ascend's customers in the Carrier and ISP (1) See in-system programmable. (2) (Internet Service Provider) An organization that provides access to the Internet. Connection to the user is provided via dial-up, ISDN, cable, DSL and T1/T3 lines. arenas, has three components: the Ascend Advantage Services for end-users; the Ascend Channel Service Programs for resellers; and the signing of a multi-year contract with IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) to provide field support. "These new services and programs are a direct result of Ascend's acceleration into the corporate marketplace," according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. John Pohl John Pohl (born June 29, 1979 in Rochester, Minnesota) is an American professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL. Pohl played for the University of Minnesota where he helped lead the team to the 2002 NCAA National Championship. , service marketing manager for Ascend. "Today, service is as much a competitive differentiation as are best-in-class products. Corporate customers expect a complete solution, including world class products backed by world class support." A major part of Ascend's support strategy for the service initiative is the company's new relationship with IBM. Ascend will now utilize IBM's Availability Services organization, part of IBM Global Services IBM Global Services is the world's largest business and technology services provider. It is the fastest growing part of IBM, with over 190,000 professionals serving customers in more than 160 countries. , to provide customers worldwide with wireless and multi-vendor services to keep systems running 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The strategic alliance with IBM will benefit corporate customers by allowing Ascend to more effectively leverage its own service personnel, while capitalizing on the sizable resources and networking expertise of the IBM worldwide service organization. Ascend and its resellers will continue to interface with customers and manage the service delivery process, dispatching an IBM service technician to the customer's site as needed as needed prn. See prn order. . IBM Global Services, with $20 billion in revenue, operates in 159 countries. IBM Global Services offers customers business transformation consulting, systems integration and application development, outsourcing and networking services, maintenance and availability services, and education and training. According to John Schultz John Schultz (born September 28, 1938) is a former Australian rules football player, who played for the Footscray Football Club in the (then) Victorian Football League (VFL) and is one of the club's greatest players. , vice president of marketing, Global Availability Services, "IBM views the relationship with Ascend, the market leader in remote access concentration, as a strategic expansion of IBM's Global Multi Vendor Services and Support in the Networking Products environment." Ascend Advantage Services The Ascend Advantage Service represents a complete portfolio of services designed to provide everything from installation to telephone assistance to on-going maintenance for end-users. Corporate customers will be able to purchase Advantage Services through resellers participating in the new Channel Service Programs. "Ascend's new service programs for resellers are probably the best I've seen yet from a manufacturer. They offer us the flexibility we need and methods to effectively address a wide range of customer service requirements. Everyone wins with these programs -- our end-users, Ascend, and ourselves," said Harry Segal, president of Networks Unlimited, Inc., a reseller based in Hudson, Mass., that specializes in wide area networking and remote LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. access solutions. Ascend Channel Services The Channel Service Programs enable resellers to deliver a complete solution to their customers, including products and services. Resellers can opt to use their own support organizations under the Authorized Service Provider An Authorized Service Provider (ASP) is a third party person that has been cleared to work on a product that is still under warranty by another company without voiding the warranty. (ASP) program which is backed by Ascend's own support organization. Support to the Authorized Service providers includes priority technical support, software licensing and distribution rights for maintenance and updates, discounted service spares and discounts on Ascend's Advantage Services. The two-tier program assures that the ASP program can be matched to the resellers unique support requirements. Resellers who do not have their own direct support organization can become an Advantage Executive partner and resell Ascend's Advantage services. The Ascend Channel Service programs enable resellers to provide comprehensive service solutions throughout North America, regardless of the depth and breadth of the resellers' own support organization. They also can resell the Ascend Advantage Services as an Advantage Executive Partner. The Channel Service Programs will, among other things, ensure consistency and competitive pricing for all of the service and support associated with Ascend's products. Availability The Channel Service Programs are available immediately. The Ascend Advantage Services will be available November 1, 1996. About Ascend Communications Ascend Communications, Inc. is a leading, worldwide provider of remote networking solutions for corporate central sites, Carriers and Internet Service Providers' points of presence, remote offices, mobile workers and telecommuters. Ascend develops, manufactures, markets, sells and supports products which utilize bandwidth on demand to extend existing corporate networks for applications such as remote LAN access, Carrier services and Internet access, telecommuting telecommuting, an arrangement by which people work at home using a computer and telephone, transmitting work material to a business office by means of a modem and telephone lines; it is also known as telework. , SOHO Soho (sōhō`, sə–), district of Westminster, London, England, known for its continental restaurants. Once a fashionable quarter, it became popular among writers and artists in the 19th cent. connectivity and videoconferencing/multimedia access. Detailed information on Ascend products, news announcements, seminars, service and support is available on Ascend's home page at the World Wide Web site http://www.ascend.com. Ascend is headquartered at 1275 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, California 94502. Phone: 800/621-9578; Fax 510/814-2300; E-mail: info@ascend.com. CONTACT: Gallagher PR Kevin Gallagher, 510/743-7830 kevin@gpr.com |
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