IBM, Cisco plan to offer joint Internet telephone service

[dArKeR]

BLOOMBERG
Monday, May 17, 2004,Page 12

International Business Machines Corp, the world's largest computer maker, and Cisco Systems Inc, the largest maker of computer-network equipment, plan to jointly offer Internet phone services, the Nihon Keizai newspaper said.

The partners expect global sales of ?1 trillion (US$8.6 billion) from the service in a few years, and aim for at least 30 percent of Japan's IP phone market in that time, the report said, citing people familiar with the agreement. The tie-up will be announced in the US early next week, the Nikkei said.

The services would cut the cost of corporate communications as much as 50 percent, the report said.

IBM will offer computer and software technology, while Cisco will contribute Internet protocol phone and Internet control expertise for systems equipped with videophone, voice and data communications, it said.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worldbiz/archives/2004/05/17/2003155886