Tata Communications and South African-based IT group Dimension Data (DDT) have signed an agreement to support the Cisco Systems Telepresence suite of products on a worldwide basis, the companies said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Dimension Data, one of a select few Cisco partners with TelePresence Global Authorised Technology Provider (ATP) status, has the skills to sell, design, install, and support Cisco Telepresence in 47 countries.<\/p>\n
In addition, Dimension Data will be using the Tata Communications global WAN to connect its own internal TelePresence endpoints.<\/p>\n
In a flexible model for clients, Tata Communications, part of the $62.5-billion Tata Group, and Dimension Data, will together provide the entire suite of services, including bandwidth, Telepresence hardware, support, maintenance and a fully managed service.<\/p>\n
Both organisations said that the global agreement aligns well with their go-to-market model and provides a ‘compelling offering’ for clients.<\/p>\n
"One significant benefit is that clients will be able to procure the hardware on either a capex or opex model, explained Dimension Data’s Group Executive: Global Solutions, Dimension Data Holdings plc, Steve Joubert.<\/p>\n
According to a MarketScope for Video Telepresence Solutions report published by Gartner last year, "by 2010, Gartner expects telepresence to generate $600-million in annual equipment revenue worldwide. With services included, total telepresence market revenue could reach $1.5-billion annually by 2010."<\/p>\n
Joubert added," Our partnership with Tata Communications reduces barriers to adoption and increases accessibility of TelePresence to a much broader audience to communicate and collaborate in real-time."<\/p>\n
Tata Communications is the market-leading provider of Telepresence services with a comprehensive offering for enterprises’ ecosystem of users globally.<\/p>\n
The service includes Cisco-certified TelePresence network, a hosted and managed service, the world’s first public rooms, and soon, the world’s first open global Telepresence exchange. <\/p>\n
Tata Communications currently has public rooms in India – Mumbai, Bangalore (2), Chennai, Hyderabad and Gurgaon; London and Boston, with plans to expand their network of rooms significantly around the world by the end of 2009.<\/p>\n
At 1.35pm on the JSE, Dimension Data’s share price was up 11c, or 1.78%, at R6.28.<\/p>\n