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Hewlett-Packard and NEC Expand Strategic Alliance to Drive IP Infrastructure Server Technology

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

At a press conference held on June 28, 1999, Hewlett-Packard Company and NEC Corporation announced the extension of their strategic alliance into the fast-growing Internet Protocol (IP) backbone network market, with a focus on collaboration in the area of IP Infrastructure Server technology. As part of this alliance, NEC will deliver carrier-grade IP servers based on HP OpenCall, a leading industry standard for computer-based intelligent voice services over SS7 and IP networks.

Key Takeaways:

  • The HP and NEC alliance aims to create a tight integration of advanced switching and open server technologies that will be at the core of next-generation communications networks.
  • The IP Infrastructure Servers will provide carrier-grade control of IP-based communications traffic for applications such as end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS), Virtual Private Network (VPN), and Voice over IP (VoIP).
  • NEC selected HP OpenCall as a foundation for its IP Infrastructure Servers due to its expected status as the de facto standard for computer-based SS7 signaling platforms and IP service control.
  • The extension of the alliance is based on a long-standing relationship to further enrich HP-UX mission-critical computing for IP services.
  • In the past year, NEC has developed applications for Intelligent Network services using HP OpenCall SS7 and deployed the solutions to new common carriers in Japan.
  • HP and NEC will collaborate in three key areas: IP Infrastructure Server delivery, high-availability and real-time performance support, and HP OpenCall platform development.

Statistics:

  • HP has 123,000 employees worldwide as of 1998.
  • HP had total revenue of $47.1 billion in its 1998 fiscal year.
  • HP's computer-related revenue was $39.5 billion in its 1998 fiscal year.
  • NEC saw net sales in fiscal year 1998-99 amount to 4,759 billion yen (approximately US$40 billion).

Sources:

  • Hewlett-Packard Company press release, June 28, 1999.
  • NEC Corporation press release, June 28, 1999.
  • HP's Communications Industry Business Unit webpage (http://www.hp.com/telecom).
  • NEC Corporation webpage (http://www.nec-global.com).
  • HP Company webpage (http://www.hp.com).

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