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Technology Stocks : Nortel Networks (NT) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Bosco who wrote (1738)	1/20/1999 1:35:00 PM
From: Paul Lee	Respond to of 14638

ntegration Partnership Program to Help Deliver Converged Voice/Video/Data Networks to Customers Worldwide Unisys is the First to Become Nortel Networks Global Solutions Partner SANTA CLARA, CA, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ - Bay Networks, a Nortel Networks' (NYSE: NT/TSE: NTL) line of business, today announced a new program for global solutions integrators designed to establish strong, mutually beneficial relationships between Nortel Networks and companies that provide a complete range of product and consulting solutions. Global Solutions Partners (GSPs) will team with Nortel Networks to deliver end-to-end network solutions including Unified Networks that span data and telephony. Unisys is the first member of the new GSP program (see related announcement). Unified Networks solutions integrate voice, video and data traffic over a single network infrastructure, providing customers with increased productivity and profitability, end-to-end control and predictability, and a significant reduction in cost, complexity and downtime. In becoming Global Solutions Partners, companies gain access to Nortel Networks' enterprise data product portfolio, allowing them to provide customers with leading-edge technology combinations not available from any other single vendor. Nortel Networks will benefit from GSP's world-class professional and systems integration services, and from participation in the rapidly growing systems integration market. Market research firm IDC estimates that the systems integration and network consulting market worldwide will grow to US$23.2 billion by 2002. Most importantly, customers around the world will benefit from the combination of this vast technology and solutions integration portfolio that will aid them in their transition from the disparate telephony and data networks of today to the Unified Networks of tomorrow. The dynamics of today's market mandate such service arrangements. As the complexity of technology escalates, customers demand standardization, global or single-point implementation, and rapid return on investment - all while maintaining a level of control over IT operations. To make this value proposition a reality, Nortel Networks requires strong alliances with solution integrators who have demonstrated integration expertise and global delivery capabilities. Clearly the growth predictions for this market indicate that customers are increasingly turning to this class of solutions provider to help them reap greater value from their investments in technology,'' said Dave Shrigley, executive vice president of marketing, sales and service for Bay Networks, Nortel Networks. ''We consider alliances with world-class organizations as critical to our success in delivering Unified Networks and look forward to developing long-standing, mutually beneficial relationships with our GSPs.'' The new Global Solutions Partner program is Bay Networks' highest customer partnership designation and is limited to a select group of qualified organizations. It is intended to foster tightly integrated relationships that will lead to mutual success in the form of increased sales opportunities, penetration of new markets, greater awareness, and increased revenues. To qualify for the GSP program, companies must meet aggressive financial, geographic, skills and competence, certification and reporting requirements. GSPs will receive a very high level of support and interaction with Nortel Networks and multiple program benefits, including: - A consistent worldwide relationship - A global contract with global account coordination - A single worldwide discount structure - Marketing funds to support training programs, demonstration equipment and joint marketing activities - Dedicated account management resources - Early involvement in Nortel Networks' product and program development cycles - Access to future Unified Networks innovations from Nortel Networks The GSP program will rollout worldwide over the coming months, starting first in North America. Nortel Networks also expects to announce several other Global Solutions Partners in the near future.