NEC and Unisys to form global alliance

Stan Beer
Thursday, 27 October 2005 10:00

IT Industry - Strategy

NEC Corporation and Unisys Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding to negotiate a partnership to collaborate in technology research and development, manufacturing and solutions delivery.

The alliance will cover a number of areas of joint development and solution delivery activities focusing on server technology, software, integrated solutions and support services.

'This alliance will significantly contribute to NEC's global business. Going forward, we expect high-end Intel-based servers, the most important in the market, to be even further enhanced, boosting global shipments. Optimal advancement of server software will be enabled by the mutual provision of both companies' software in the mission critical business field. Furthermore, the complementary strengths of both companies in solutions and services markets and applications will be of great advantage to NEC's global strategy,' said Akinobu Kanasugi, president of NEC. 'Unisys world-class consulting and support services will also benefit our customers.'

'In this age of increasingly globalised business, companies that are continents apart can discover that they're ideally positioned to mesh their complementary strengths and vision; so it is with NEC and us,' said Joseph McGrath, president and CEO of Unisys. 'Together, we can provide an enriched combination of technology, consulting expertise and global presence that is designed to generate increased innovation with lower R&D costs, stronger offerings for our customers, and access to new market opportunities for both companies.  This is among a number of new ventures for Unisys that build on our more aggressive partnering model to provide value and unlock opportunities around the globe.'

NEC and Unisys plan to collaborate to design and develop a common high-end Intel-based server platform to provide customers of each company with increasingly powerful, scalable and cost-effective servers.  The first of these next-generation common platforms is planned for release in 2007.  The new servers are to be manufactured by NEC on behalf of both companies.

The two companies plan to supply to each other their current Windows and Linux-based middleware products. They also plan to jointly develop new middleware aimed at maximising application and systems management efficiency.

NEC and Unisys also plan to extend the customer value and effective geographic scope of their solutions business.  Initial areas for the planned collaboration include:

*       Security Products and Solutions.

*       Telecommunications Solutions.

*       3D Visible Enterprise Solutions.

*       Worldwide Opportunities.
 
In markets outside Japan, under the proposed arrangements, Unisys would also become the preferred partner to provide technology support and maintenance services, such as break-fix support, to NEC's customers.