Cable and Wireless Communications and IBM Announce Strategic Partnership.LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 2, 1998--Cable & Wireless Communications wireless communications System using radio-frequency, infrared, microwave, or other types of electromagnetic or acoustic waves in place of wires, cables, or fibre optics to transmit signals or data. today announced a strategic IT partnership 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) , the largest of its kind between a major communications company Communications Company is a communications unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are part of Combat Logistics Regiment 37 , 3rd Marine Logistics Group (3MLG) and III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF). The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. and a leading IT services provider. Under the 10-year, 1.8 billion pound (US$3 billion) agreement, IBM will provide the support required by Cable & Wireless Communications to significantly improve business efficiency and service to customers. The partnership will involve the transfer of 1,000 staff from Cable & Wireless Communications to 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. , and the creation by IBM of up to 400 new jobs. Cost efficiencies achieved by Cable & Wireless Communications from the partnership will be reinvested to improve business performance through superior IT delivery. Cable & Wireless Communications will retain responsibility for IT strategy and systems security. The company will maintain a small in-house team responsible for IT strategy and managing the IBM relationship. Working in partnership with IBM, Cable & Wireless Communications will deliver "best in breed" IT solutions, sourced from a wide range of software providers. IBM's Telecommunications Industry unit will also establish an international customer support center of competence for Integrated Customer Management Integrated customer management (or its acronym, ICM) is a business strategy for improving support by sharing information between discrete departments. ICM brings together three business principles: alignment, agility, and customer-centricity. Systems (ICMS ICMS Imposto Sobre Circulação de Mercadorias e Serviços (Brazilian excise tax) ICMS International Centre for Mathematical Sciences ICMS International Committee for Museum Security ICMS Integrated Customer Management System ) in the UK. "This partnership brings significant benefits to us. It will enable us to deliver the IT systems necessary to provide high levels of business efficiency and customer service in a growing communications company," said Graham Wallace, Chief Executive of Cable & Wireless Communications. "We will be able to do this much more quickly and effectively as a result of this partnership by harnessing the skills, experiences and global resources of IBM." "Cable & Wireless Communications has set ambitious but attainable targets for the development of its business," said Frank Kern, General Manager, Professional Services, IBM Global Services EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) Refers to that region of the world. For example, one might see products packaged differently for the UK, EMEA and Asia Pacific markets. . "Given our capabilities, expertise and successful track record in the IT services environment and the global telecoms industry, we are well-placed to help Cable & Wireless Communications in the future. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership." Cable & Wireless Communications plc was created by the merger of Bell Cablemedia, Mercury Communications, NYNEX NYNEX New York-New England & X for the Unknown (Telephone Company) NYNEX New York Network Exchange CableComms and Videotron. The company provides local, national and international voice and data telecommunications together with multichannel Using two or more paths for transmission or processing. It can refer to a variety of architectures including (1) multiple I/O channels between the CPU and peripheral devices, (2) multiple wires in a cable, (3) multiple "logical" channels within a single wire or fiber or (4) multiple television and Internet services. In addition, it is strategically positioned to offer new products such as interactive digital services and multimedia products as they become available. IBM Global Services is the world's largest information technology services provider, with 1997 revenues of approximately $26 billion. IBM's fastest growing business segment has an unsurpassed breadth of capabilities, and more than 116,000 professionals helping customers of all sizes solve real business problems. The IBM global telecommunications and media industry business unit offers a wide range of solutions for telecommunications, cable TV, wireless, broadcasting, publishing, advertising, sports and entertainment industries as well as Internet service providers Internet service provider (ISP) Company that provides Internet connections and services to individuals and organizations. For a monthly fee, ISPs provide computer users with a connection to their site (see data transmission), as well as a log-in name and password. .
CONTACT: Cable and Wireless Communications, London
Roy Payne 44 171-674 5387
Martin Graham-Scott 44 171-674 5354
Felicity Bull 44 171-674 5440
Investor enquiries:
Samantha Ashworth 44 171-528 1750
http://www.cwcom.co.uk
or
IBM
David Caplan 914-766-4529 (US)
Paula Smail 33 141-885494 (Europe)
Andrew Goldman 44 171-202 3744 (Europe)
Andrew_Goldman@uk.ibm.com
http:/www.ibm.com/services
http:/www.ibm.com/telmedia
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