Actually it looks like a large technology agreement for the most part...
John
IBM/Dell Agree To Broad
Cross-Licensing Of Patents
Dow Jones Newswires
NEW YORK -- International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) and Dell
Computer Corp. (DELL) confirmed they signed a strategic $16
billion technology pact that is expected to span seven years.
As part of the contract, Dell will purchase storage, microelectronics,
networking, and display technology from IBM for integration into Dell
computer systems. In the future, the agreement is expected to
include IBM's copper, silicon-on-insulator, and other advanced
technologies.
In a joint release, Dell Computer and IBM said the agreement calls
for broad patent cross-licensing between the two companies and
collaboration on the development of future product technology.
Initially, Dell will have access to IBM's high capacity disk drives,
network adapter cards, flat panel displays, high performance static
random access memory (SRAM) and custom chips.
"The body of Dell-developed product technology, particularly in
servers, storage products and notebook PCs, is expanding rapidly,"
Mike Lambert, senior vice president of Dell Enterprise Systems
Group said in a release.
"By more extensively pairing IBM's world-class technology with our
own, in systems brought to market through our efficient direct
business model, we intend to enhance Dell's competitiveness in the
global computer systems industry," Lambert said.
As reported in today's The Wall Street Journal, industry officials say
that Dell could benefit from hiring IBM to support Dell's customers
with computer services. IBM's service business, which has annual
revenues of about $30 billion, is one of its fastest-growing sectors
and provides everything from computer consulting to installation and
maintenance.
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