Hmmmmm, Visio, Cable and Wireless, Compaq...
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VISIO: Visio forges global partnership with Cable & Wireless
OCT 22, 1999, M2 Communications - SEATTLE -- Cable & Wireless, a leading international
telecommunications provider, signed a global purchasing agreement with Visio Corp. (Nasdaq: VSIO), the
market leader in business drawing and diagramming software. The deal is one of a series of enabling
agreements that will establish a series of global partnerships with suppliers of "best in class" information
technology products and services. Negotiated by Cable & Wireless and implemented by Compaq Computer
Corp., these partnerships are expected to bring savings of about GBP1 million (US$1.6 million) over two
years and deliver service improvements and the latest technology to all Cable & Wireless companies.
"This agreement with Visio provides our employees with a standardized software tool for drawing and
diagramming, as well as benefiting Cable & Wireless in many other practical ways," said Mary Dupont,
director of desktop and intranet services, Cable & Wireless. "It means easier and faster deployment of the
software to our employees' desktops, easier tracking of licenses and, of course, cost savings resulting from
simple economies of scale." "More and more companies are offering Visio as a standard drawing tool to
their employees," said Tom Hull, senior vice president of sales, Visio Corp. "This demonstrates not only the
strength and flexibility of Visio products but also of our ability to deliver cost-effective solutions to
companies like Cable & Wireless - solutions that ultimately help them to meet their own internal goals."
The global partnership agreement states that Cable & Wireless has an "intention to buy" Visio's software in
the 50-plus countries where Cable & Wireless is currently operating, building on the existing Visio seats
within the company. Visio usage is expected to grow fastest within the information technology department
where Visio 2000 Professional Edition and Visio 2000 Enterprise Edition are already being used extensively
to document Cable & Wireless' sophisticated information technology infrastructure. Use of Standard Edition
for the creation of drawings and diagrams used in normal business communication is also expected to
increase, as is usage of Visio 2000 Technical Edition in the engineering department for the creation of
technical drawing and schematics.
"Visio's enthusiasm and openness in putting together this unique agreement meant that we were able to
implement them as our first desktop standard quickly and painlessly," said Nick Duarte, director of
purchasing, group technology IT/IS, Cable & Wireless. "Visio is working closely with us on internal plans to
educate employees on the benefits of drawing with Visio, which in turn, helps us to promote our information
technology standards program." Why Visio?
"We felt confident selecting Visio as the company's standard drawing tool because their products are
already recognized as an industry standard in mainstream business drawing, information technology
network documentation and technical drawing," said Duarte. "The fact that the products are easy to use,
requiring very little training, and easy to integrate into applications, such as Microsoft PowerPoint and
Word, just made our decision even easier." How the agreement works
Master licenses and copies of all Visio products will be provided to Cable & Wireless companies around the
world. When a user or department requests a copy of the software, the local information technology team
will be responsible for loading the Visio software onto the users' desktops - either manually or from the
server. The information technology department then reports to Compaq, via an Internet-based ordering
system, the number of licenses provided to users each month and an invoice is issued to the purchasing
department of that business unit at the agreed global price for each license.
About Cable & Wireless
With customers in 70 countries, Cable & Wireless is a major global telecommunications business with
revenue of around GBP8 billion in the year ended March 1999 and over 50,000 employees. Its businesses
around the world offer a range of services spanning broadband data and Internet access, fixed and mobile
voice, as well as interactive entertainment and information. Cable & Wireless' priority for expansion is the
fast-growing market of data and Internet Protocol services for business customers. Since November 1998, it
has announced major investments in advanced networks in the United States and Europe, the restructuring
of Cable & Wireless Communications in the United Kingdom and has acquired full control of Cable &
Wireless IDC in Japan to support this strategy. Cable & Wireless now holds a unique position in terms of
global coverage and services to business customers.
About Visio
Visio is the leading supplier of enterprisewide business diagramming and technical drawing software, with
an installed base of more than 3 million users worldwide. Founded in September 1990, the Seattle-based
company pioneered the drawing and diagramming software market with the release of Visio 1.0 in November
1992 and has since released additional Windows-based graphics applications that offer users a unique and
effective way to communicate and work. Visio's powerful product line is becoming a worldwide standard for
graphical solutions in business, with the support of partner programs and third-party relationships in key
market segments. Visio products are available in as many as 12 language versions and are sold in more
than 45 countries.
Visio and IntelliCAD are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Visio Corp. in the United States
and/or other countries. All other trademarks, trade names or company names referenced herein are used for
identification only and are the property of their respective owners. |
