(21 January 2008 12:00 pm)

MUMBAI: In a bid to spread its areas of business to encompass not just the mobile but also the PC and television through IPTV and DTH, Bharti Airtel has strengthened its existing relationship with IBM. The new agreement is estimated to be $150 million.

As per the new deal, IBM will bring in its global expertise in areas including the telemedia business, distribution, enterprise segments and business resilience.

Bharti Airtel director (IT and innovation) Dr Jai Menon said, “We intend to continue to build upon the success of the principle of utility computing, on which we had structured our partnership with IBM.

"Our success has been in the countless innovations that we have managed to drive in our business and in doing so, are bringing to our customers an unmatched unified experience and great value-adds. With a thrust on these new areas, we are leapfrogging to the next level which will empower our customers to make informed choices and provide seamless access to a host of services.”

IBM VP communications sector (Asia-Pacific) Ramesh Awtaney says, “Bharti Airtel is continuing its leadership in the Indian telecom market by moving beyond the mobile. By bringing to its customers unified services across the entire spectrum of mobile, broadband and television, the company will lead the next wave of telecom revolution in the country. IBM is proud to be associated with Bharti Airtel as it continues to write telecom history in India. We are geared up to support the growth and expansion of Bharti Airtel and will continue to bring in global best practices and innovative solutions.

Consistency and simplicity: By strengthening its distribution and prepaid segment, Bharti Airtel will provide a unified experience to its customers. Its services will now be more easily accessible and will simplify the use of these services. IBM will support this by transforming the current IT platforms, which will enhance customer experience, by supporting differentiated customer relationships.

This will enable and support channel transformation, which is essential for rural market penetration. IBM will also enhance the delivery of value-added products and services to the prepaid segments.