REDMOND, Wash. — May 10, 2005 — Microsoft Corp. and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Ltd., a leading global IT consulting, solutions, services and business process outsourcing (BPO) firm, today announced their plans to advance their strategic alliance to deliver IT solutions to global companies more effectively. As part of this ongoing alliance, Microsoft and TCS plan to collaborate on several key initiatives, including implementation of the Microsoft® Connected Services Framework with telecommunications providers.
“We are extremely pleased to extend our long-standing collaboration with Microsoft to jointly provide leading-edge solutions such as Microsoft Connected Services Framework to the telecommunications industry,” said Anita Nanadikar, global head of e-business technologies at TCS. “Our efforts together on Connected Services Framework mark the latest step in the global systems integration alliance between TCS and Microsoft, one that will bring greater value to our customers,” said Nanadikar, who is responsible for the Microsoft alliance at TCS.
Microsoft Connected Services Framework is an integrated, server-based software solution that allows telecommunications operators and service providers to create, aggregate and provision converged communications services across multiple networks and a range of device types. The Connected Services Framework can help wireless and wireline operators reduce the cost and time of service deployment, more efficiently utilize existing infrastructure, and generate additional revenue through new services.
A Microsoft global systems integrator, TCS has collaborated with Microsoft to implement large-scale, complex enterprise information technology (IT) systems for customers on a worldwide basis. TCS and Microsoft are already achieving early success in deploying Connected Services Framework with major service providers. TCS and Microsoft Consulting Services are working together to deliver an integrated IT solution to BT Retail, to help enable BT Retail to roll out affordable and easy-to-use Web-based services to small businesses.
“TCS is investing heavily in the infrastructure and resources to deliver solutions including Microsoft Connected Services Framework to telecommunications customers such as BT Retail,” said A.S. Lakshminarayanan, vice president and country manager for UK and Ireland at TCS. In addition to the facilities in the United States, TCS has established a dedicated Microsoft Solutions Center in Hungary to provide rapid, localized response and expertise to customers in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) market. TCS also foresees a substantial number of opportunities in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region around Connected Services Framework.
“The combination of Microsoft’s platform innovation and TCS’ global software delivery model represents a win-win for our customers,” said Maria Martinez, corporate vice president for the Communications Sector at Microsoft. “The solutions we are providing together, such as Microsoft Connected Services Framework, help our customers speed time to market for new services, reduce deployment and ongoing operational costs, and recognize operational efficiencies — all critical elements in gaining the edge in today’s highly competitive environment. Building on our work to date, we are focused on replicating the success we’ve had with carriers such as BT and further driving the adoption of software-powered service networks.”
About Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is the world-leading information technology consulting, services and business process outsourcing organization that envisioned and pioneered the adoption of the flexible global business practices that today enable companies to operate more efficiently and produce more value.
TCS achieved this by creating and perfecting a unique method of global deployment and delivery of high quality, high value services and products in IT consulting and business process outsourcing. Known as the “Global Delivery Model,” this strategic services delivery concept has reshaped the IT services industry.
More than 75% of TCS customers reward the company’s reliability, passion, creativity, and unique ability to handle the broadest range of their IT needs by continually extending and deepening their partnerships with TCS. With more than 43,000 of the world’s best trained IT consultants located in 32 countries, TCS is uniquely positioned to deliver its flexible world class services seamlessly to any location.
TCS reported consolidated revenues of $2.24 billion (U.S.) in the fiscal year 2004–2005. The company is listed on the National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange in India.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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