Smart Telecom today joined forces with IBM to serve Irish business needs, illustrating the growing trend for telecoms and broadband providers to become ‘one stop shops’ in terms of providing businesses with all their communications and IT requirements.
The new partnership with IBM will allow Smart to offer a full range of integrated and converged communication at IT-based services to businesses in Ireland, ranging from the smallest start-up to the large corporate.
The trend follows similar moves by Eircom to establish a one stop shop for IT and telecoms through its Total ICT division as well as the recent decision by BT Ireland to acquire IT services firm Cara for an undisclosed sum. BT also forged an alliance with Irish IT consulting player Alphyra to offer SME-facing IT and telecoms solutions.
“This deal with IBM means that Smart Telecom can now position itself as a leader in the delivery of end to end technology solutions in Ireland,” commented Oisin Fanning, chief executive of Smart Telecom.
“Technology has given organisations the power to trade globally and this new service will essentially enable companies to increase the scale of their business operations, open up new global markets and thrive in the future. Smart Telecom is delighted to be in a position to assist these companies and we are very much looking forward to developing this market in the coming months,” Fanning said.
Among the services Smart will offer in its capacity as an IBM Global Services Business Partner are: hosting and managed services; online back-up and data recovery; business continuity; network assessments; network management; security services; helpdesk and full desktop managed services.
Smart Telecom recently raised €55.2m in new funding, which will be used to deliver the aggressive rollout of the company’s corporate and residential services in Ireland. The company has also been offered Ireland’s fourth and final 3G licence and will launch the new service later this year.
“This partnership provides us with access to new customers and allows us to establish new relationships in IBM target markets, particularly within the SME client base, whilst utilising the worldwide resources and experience of IBM Services and its deep understanding of specific industry requirements,” said John Scully, IBM Global Services director for Ireland.
“Our client-facing teams will be in a position to include Smart Telecom’s next generation voice, data, internet and wireless services to the existing IBM Technology and Services portfolio,” said Scully.
By John Kennedy
