REPEAT/BellSouth and IBM Launch E-business Initiative Focused At Web-enabling Small and Mid-sized Businesses.Business Editors & High Tech Writers REPEATING... PARTNERWORLD, ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 2001 Collaborative Business Development and Sales Alliance will Leverage Joint Marketing and Distribution Channels to Tap into Multi-Billion Dollar e-Business Infrastructure Market BellSouth (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : BLS See Bureau of Labor Statistics. ) and 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) (NYSE: IBM) have formed an alliance to deliver turnkey e-business solutions to small and mid-sized companies throughout the Southeast. The alliance extends BellSouth's e-Platform strategy and state-of-the-art hosting centers in Atlanta and Miami, and builds on IBM's leadership in the e-business marketplace to bring reliable and cost-effective e-Business Infrastructure solutions to new markets. The alliance includes sales, marketing and business development initiatives that will leverage IBM's and BellSouth's extensive network of distribution partners who sell to businesses in the region. Together, BellSouth and IBM will offer channel partners network-based solutions that combine IBM's market leading eServer(a) family and e-business software with access to BellSouth's extensive data network and its full portfolio of e-business services. BellSouth's e-Platform initiative offers a combination of high-speed broadband networking transport to ASPs, ISPs and e-business services companies. The result will be a powerful e-business turnkey solution that enables small and midmarket businesses to gain a presence on the Internet, and at the same time extend channel partners the ability to tap into a several billion dollar market opportunity. Through their distribution network of solution providers and agents, BellSouth and IBM will provide midmarket customers with 24 X 7 monitored solutions based on two recognized brands. These offerings will provide a solution that customers in this market don't often have the technological resources in-house to provide themselves. Many of these solutions will be provided on a monthly lease basis. In addition, BellSouth will support IBM's eServer(a) family as part of its current hosting offerings to customers. The companies will also be developing new managed hosting offerings based on IBM technology. "IBM is recognized worldwide for its leadership in the e-business marketplace, so this is an ideal relationship for BellSouth," said Dick Anderson
Richard Paul Anderson (born February 10, 1946 in Midland, Michigan) is a former American Football defensive back for the American Football League's and NFL's Miami , president of BellSouth Customer Markets. "Both companies have strong brands, excellent products and services, and a lasting commitment to serving customers at the highest level." Peter Rowley, general manager, IBM's Global Business Partner organization said, "BellSouth's expertise in the communications industry communications industry, broadly defined, the business of conveying information. Although communication by means of symbols and gestures dates to the beginning of human history, the term generally refers to mass communications. , plus IBM's advanced e-business technology will provide small and medium-sized customers with the kind of quality solutions and applications they require to stay focused on their own operations." With today's announcement, BellSouth has also passed the rigorous requirements of IBM's Hosting Advantage program, an IBM Service Providers for e-Business initiative created to recognize and promote quality hosting service providers. As an IBM Hosting Advantage Business Partner, the BellSouth e-Business Centers in Atlanta and Miami have been identified as world-class hosting environments See hosted environment. that exceed industry standards for application hosting. IBM's mark is a seal of approval indicating that the hosting partner has met extensive review standards. The IBM and BellSouth alliance is part of BellSouth's growing e-Platform initiative. BellSouth's first two e-Business Centers opened last summer in Atlanta and Miami with roughly 100,000 square feet each, a redundant architecture, and state-of-the-art security and back-up systems. The centers are complemented by some 3.5 million miles of fiber optic cable Noun 1. fiber optic cable - a cable made of optical fibers that can transmit large amounts of information at the speed of light fibre optic cable transmission line, cable, line - a conductor for transmitting electrical or optical signals or electric power , 1,650 central offices, 50 BellSouth Managed Facilities, 17,000 SONET rings The architecture used in SONET technology. SONET rings, known as "self-healing rings," use two or more transmission paths between network nodes, which are typically digital cross-connects (DCSs) or add/drop multiplexers (ADMs). and over 500 fast-packet switches. BellSouth's broadband DSL DSL in full Digital Subscriber Line Broadband digital communications connection that operates over standard copper telephone wires. It requires a DSL modem, which splits transmissions into two frequency bands: the lower frequencies for voice (ordinary deployment in the small and medium-sized business market provides an important link into the e-Platform initiative. With broadband connectivity, business customers get the advantage of reduced latency, better performance, continuous availability, improved caching, greater bandwidth and speed, and closer proximity to their end-users. "Small and mid-sized businesses are anxious to capitalize on Cap´i`tal`ize on` v. t. 1. To turn (an opportunity) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a situation); to profit from; as, to capitalize on an opponent's mistakes s>. the opportunities associated with Web-enabling their companies, but too often have not been able to due to perceived complexity or prohibitive pro·hib·i·tive also pro·hib·i·to·ry adj. 1. Prohibiting; forbidding: took prohibitive measures. 2. pricing schemes. Now, BellSouth and IBM will provide the keys to unlock the potential of this market segment and level the competitive playing field," said Anderson. Dan Bennewitz, VP, Communications Sector, IBM added, "This alliance is a great example of IBM's strategy to work with Service Providers. Through this relationship, BellSouth leverages IBM's global customer relationships and e-business technology and IBM will leverage BellSouth's e-Centers and distribution strengths to significantly improve our reach and penetration in the small and medium-sized marketplace." About IBM IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate in·no·vate v. in·no·vat·ed, in·no·vat·ing, in·no·vates v.tr. To begin or introduce (something new) for or as if for the first time. v.intr. To begin or introduce something new. . Drawing on resources from across IBM and its Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that enable telecommunications Service Providers A Telecommunications Service Provider or TSP is a type of Communications Service Provider that has traditionally provided telephone and similar services. This category includes ILECs, CLECs, and mobile wireless companies. and equipment suppliers to take full advantage of the new era of e-business. The fastest way to get more information about IBM is through the IBM home page at http://www.ibm.com. Information on IBM's telecommunications offerings can be found at www.ibm.com/industries/telecom. About BellSouth BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications services company headquartered in Atlanta, GA, serving more than 44 million customers in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and 16 other countries. Consistently recognized for customer satisfaction, BellSouth provides a full array of broadband data and e-commerce solutions to business customers, including Web hosting Making a Web site available on the Internet. Many ISPs host a few personal Web pages for an individual at no additional cost above the monthly service fee, but the address is subordinate to the ISP; for example, www.friendlyisp.com/pat_smith. and other Internet services. In the residential market, BellSouth offers DSL high-speed Internet See broadband. access, advanced voice features and other services. BellSouth also provides online and directory advertising services, including BellSouth(R) Real Pages(SM).com. BellSouth owns 40 percent of Cingular Wireless, the nation's second largest wireless company, which provides innovative wireless data and voice services. (a)Indicates trademark or registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. |
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