For Immediate Release
February 24, 1997
International Business Machines Corporation
IBM and NTT Agree to Study Network Computing in Japan
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone CorporationInternational Business Machines Corporation (IBM), the world's leading information technology company, and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), the world's largest telecommunications company, today announced a strategic agreement to jointly study network computing applications and services in Japan.
Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will examine potential ways to bring together their network infrastructures, platforms, technologies and complementary skills to advance network computing for their customers in Japan.
"The integration of telecommunications and information technology is key to the future of network computing, both globally and in Japan," said Ned C. Lautenbach, IBM senior vice president and group executive, worldwide sales and services. "As we can see by the explosive growth of the Internet, network computing is rapidly changing how companies conduct business around the world. With this agreement, we hope to accelerate the growth of network computing in Japan."
"Combining IBM's application technology in network computing with NTT's networking technology enables us to create open network services that meet customers' needs," said Dr. Keiji Tachikawa, senior executive vice president of NTT.
IBM is the worldwide leader in network computing, particularly with the IBM Global Network and its worldwide reach and ability to securely deliver network-based applications.
The IBM Global Network is one of the world's largest data networks, serving more than 30,000 customer enterprises in 850 cities around the world with managed network services for collaboration, content hosting and electronic commerce. These services can be customized and delivered via the Internet and other public and private networks worldwide.
The network services provided over the IBM Global Network are part of the portfolio of IBM Global Services. With $22.9 billion in revenue in 1996 and operations in 163 countries, IBM Global Services is the world's leading provider of network, product and professional information technology services.
