Monday, 19 February 2007

IBM Announces Development Agreement with Deutsche Telekom AG / T-Com

IBM and Deutsche Telekom AG / T-Com have made known that the companies will collaborate to transform the Deutsche Telekom / T-Com fixed line network into an Next Generation Network (NGN). The agreement will include the development and management of advanced services.

This IP-based network transformation will include the entire range of Internet services and the high standards of telephony that are available today. On behalf of Deutsche Telekom / T-Com, IBM has developed software-based services that in combination with IBM server technology will transform Deutsche Telekom / T-Com's service offerings. As a result Deutsche Telekom fixed line customers will have a new range of services at their disposal, the company said in a statement.

"The German fixed line network delivers outstanding quality of voice and data transmission, but at present it does not yet have the integration capability that is required for convergence of services," said Matthias Hartmann, General Manager IBM Germany and head of IBM Global Business Services. "The development initiative between IBM and Deutsche Telekom AG / T-Com starts with fixed line network replacement and will move on to integrating other services."

The long-term conversion of the German fixed line network into a state-of-the-art NGN infrastructure based on Internet standards (the Internet protocol/IP) will combine the full range of services offered by the Internet and the high standards of telephony that are already available, IBM officials said.

In contrast to conventional VoIP solutions, it resolves IP-specific challenges with respect to security and quality of transmission, personal identification and localisation. The new NGN architecture thereby benefits both Deutsche Telekom and its customers significantly and in equal measure, the companies said.