News
AT&T to Buy IBM’s Network Business
- By Scott Bekker
- December 08, 1998
In a move to increase revenue in its growing network services unit, AT&T Corp. (
www.att.com) will acquire IBM Corp.’s global network business, which the company put on the auction block earlier this year, for $5 billion.
Accompanying the agreement are two outsourcing pacts between the companies. AT&T, in fact, will handle approximately $5 billion worth of IBM’s global networking needs over five years.
IBM, on the other hand, will provide applications processing and data center management operations for AT&T for $4 billion over 10 years. Big Blue will also manage AT&T’s data processing centers, which operate corporate information systems such as payroll and benefits.
Analysts speculate that the deal could generate as much as $2.5 billion in revenue for AT&T in the first year alone. --Thomas Sullivan Staff Reporter/Reviews Editor
About the Author
Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.