Industry News
Top Spanish Financial Services Firm “la Caixa” Extends EDS Relationship With Four-Year, €200 Million Contract
Representatives of EDS announced a €200 million (US$242 million) agreement for information technology services (IT) and business process outsourcing services (BPO) with “la Caixa” that will extend the relationship for an additional four years. Since 1996, EDS has provided a range of IT services for the leading Spanish financial services firm. The nearly decade-long relationship with “la Caixa” has enabled the financial institution to increase profits while lowering operating costs.
EDS will continue managing “la Caixa’s” technology infrastructure using the EDS data center in Barcelona and managing contingency and security services. Additionally, EDS will develop new banking and insurance software solutions and applications architecture and will manage the Contact Centre, providing support to the bank branches. EDS financial BPO solutions afford “la Caixa” the ability to differentiate itself from its competitors, focus on its core business and increase its efficiency while using world-class technology platforms.
With almost 4,800 branches across Spain, the agreement enables “la Caixa” to continue its market share growth by opening new branches and increasing sales while reducing overall costs. The agreement provides operational efficiencies by allowing EDS to integrate mainframe, midrange and network operations and improve processes for managing risk.
The renewed relationship with “la Caixa,” on the heels of the contract with First International Bank of Israel, demonstrates EDS’ global operational excellence in the financial services industry, said Rafael Roa, President EDS Iberia.
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Lockheed Martin Receives Contract for 30 New Greek F16s
The U.S. government awarded a US$99.7 million contract to Lockheed Martin on December 27 for long-lead tasks related to the production of 30 new Advanced Block 52+ aircraft for Greece.
The governments of Greece and the United States signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) for the aircraft earlier in December. The new order includes 20 single-place F-16Cs and 10 two-place F-16Ds. The LOA provides Greece an option for an additional 10 aircraft.
The new aircraft will supplement the existing fleet of Hellenic Air Force (HAF) F-16s and continue the modernization of the HAF. The total program value for the initial 30 aircraft is approximately $2 billion, with Lockheed Martin’s portion estimated at about $1.2 billion.
The final Greek aircraft will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2009.
The Block 52+ is one of the most modern and capable F-16 versions ever built, providing a major leap in capabilities over earlier models. Capability enhancements include an expanded core computing capacity, improved communications and a large selection of precision weapons.
The initial Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract covers materials and tasks necessary to launch the new production program for Greece.
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U.S. Navy Awards General Dynamics $64 Million Contract for Lead Yard Services
The U.S. Navy has awarded Bath Iron Works, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, a US$64 million contract to provide Lead Yard Services for the DDG 51 Arleigh Burke Class AEGIS Destroyer Program and FFG 7 Perry Class Frigate Program.
Bath Iron Works will provide expert design, planning and material support services for maintenance and modernization. Work will be performed in Bath, Maine, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2010.
Bath Iron Works of Bath, Maine, is the lead shipbuilder for the DDG 51 Class and a leading designer and builder of complex surface combatants for the U.S. Navy. Since 1991, BIW has manufactured and delivered 25 Arleigh Burke class destroyers, the most technologically advanced surface combatant in the world, to the U.S. Navy. Six additional ships are currently under construction in Bath, and three more are under contract for delivery by 2010. The company employs approximately 5,600 people.
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Huawei Wins China Telecom’s 1.2 Million ADSL2+ Lines Contract
Representatives of Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. a leader in providing customized products and solutions for telecommunications operators around the world, announced that the company has won the ADSL tender of the China Telecom Group, the leading fixed-line carrier in China, to provide 1.2 million ADSL2+ lines for China Telecom’s broadband network. Huawei will be providing its industry-leading DSLAM equipment, SmartAX MA5600 based on GE architecture, with 100% ADSL2+ application, which will help advance China Telecom’s broadband network.
As the main partner of China Telecom on broadband network, Huawei is devoted to the development of broadband access business and has launched the broadband access platform SmartAX MA5600 based on GE architecture, as well as a sustainable solution based on current DSLAM equipment, providing a secure platform to China Telecom for high-quality deployment of broadband transformation and IPTV business.
Huawei’s SmartAX MA5600 is a comprehensive solution tailored for broadband multi-service network. SmartAX MA5600 provides operators with extensive support for diversified networks and value-added services by delivering a more intelligent network mechanism and security management. The platform is equipped with VDSL2/XPON connection capability to provide a solid foundation for network amalgamation that meets future network needs. More than 20 telecom operators globally have adopted the SmartAX MA5600 Triple-play solutions provided by Huawei.
As of 3Q 2005, Huawei’s broadband DLSLAM products have been deployed in more than 50 countries and regions around the world. Its IP DSLAM application has reached 16 million lines and has become the most widely-adopted IP DSLAM products in the world, providing services to a host of leading telecom operators including Telefonica, Tiscali, SingTel, TRUE, Telemar, BrT, MGTS, BSNL and NEUF. With total sales amounting to over 6 million lines, Huawei is the provider with the most widely-applied ADSL2+ products around the globe.
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Alcatel Acquires GMK to Expand into Brazilian and Latin American
Representatives of Alcatel announced the company has acquired GMK, a leading provider of contact center voice self-service solutions in Brazil. The acquisition supports Alcatel's strategy to deliver expand further into the Brazilian and Latin American enterprise markets.
Founded in 1984, GMK is based in Sao Paulo, Brazil and currently employs approximately 100 people. GMK has established a market-leading position in the Brazilian voice self-service and interactive voice response (IVR) market. The company currently serves more than 100 customers with a strong market presence in the financial services and outsourcing sectors. GMK will be merged into Alcatel Telecomunicações S.A, Alcatel's subsidiary in Brazil, and GMK employees will become part of the Genesys center of excellence for the local contact center market. This acquisition will enhance Alcatel's and Genesys' market presence and ability to serve local enterprise customers in Brazil and across Latin America. All GMK customers will continue to be supported on their current platforms.
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Nortel Acquires Tasman Networks to Strengthen End-to-End Convergence Solutions
Nortel has enhanced its ability to deliver end-to-end converged enterprise networks with the agreement to acquire Tasman Networks, an established networking company that provides a portfolio of secure, high-performance enterprise routers. Under the terms of the agreement, Nortel will pay U.S. $99.5 million in cash for Tasman Networks. The acquisition is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2006 and is subject to customary closing conditions.
San Jose , California based Tasman Networks founded in 1997, delivers high-performance, wide-area network IP routers that are designed to offer simplified deployment and provide a more cost-effective investment for companies. They are planned to augment Nortel's convergence solutions for data and IP multimedia customers and are planned to be marketed as part of Nortel's Secure Router line.
This portfolio, aimed at small to medium-sized branch office deployments, is designed to provide full routing and multicast services; and is uniquely capable of running numerous services such as voice, VPN, firewall, and quality of service simultaneously with wire-speed performance. This capability is crucial to converging network services onto one platform and is designed to provide full bandwidth from the network consistently.
Nortel is the only company to have deployed more than 50 million enterprise telephony lines in addition to 50 million Ethernet ports, demonstrating the company's leadership in delivering converged network solutions. Nortel's IP multimedia solutions serve customers of all sizes in all industries around the world.
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Rockwell Collins Appoints Carmichael to New Post
Rockwell Collins has appointed Beverly Carmichael as vice president of Staffing and Organizational Development.
In this role, Carmichael will be responsible for overseeing the company's resource acquisition and employee development. She joins Rockwell Collins after a 10-year career with Southwest Airlines, where she served in several key roles including vice president of People. She has previous experience with the law firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. and with Sun Oil Company.
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AK Steel Awards IBM Five-Year Contract Extension
AK Steel, a leading steel manufacturer, awarded IBM a five-year extension to its existing contract. IBM will continue to provide the steel company's IT infrastructure services, develop and maintain business applications, and work on a variety of key initiatives.
During IBM's 13-year tenure as AK Steel's IT provider, it has delivered information technology services and has completed a variety of projects.
Under the extension, IBM will manage mainframe and midrange UNIX and Intel-based servers, desktop PCs, telecommunications, and help desk, as well as provide data center services, application development and maintenance for business applications.
