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Panasonic's 380,000-Strong Workforce Moves to IBM's Cloud Computing

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Panasonic Corp has chosen IBM Corp to manage a web-based email system for its vast 380,000-strong workforce, marking the industry's largest cloud computing contract to date. This move comes as IBM has been striving to catch up with rivals in the cloud computing market, where leaders like Amazon.com, Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce.com have made significant strides. The deal will see IBM providing cloud services including email, calendars, web meetings, file sharing, social networking, and other collaboration tools to Panasonic's workforce.

Key Takeaways:

  • Panasonic has hired IBM to manage a web-based email system for its 380,000-strong workforce, marking the industry's largest cloud computing contract to date.
  • Gartner estimates sales of cloud-based applications, including email programs, will soar 47% this year to $9.6 billion.
  • The deal includes IBM's Lotus web-based email along with new cloud software for calendars, web meetings, file sharing, social networking, and other collaboration tools.
  • Panasonic plans to outsource key parts of its technology infrastructure, with the intention of signing other large deals, although specifics are unclear.
  • Panasonic is replacing in-house email systems in the Americas that currently run on Microsoft's software, while other parts of the world will continue to use IBM's Lotus email systems.
  • The deal is seen as a significant win for IBM, which has been struggling to keep pace with rivals in the cloud computing market.

Statistics:

  • 380,000: The number of Panasonic employees who will use IBM's web-based email system.
  • 47%: The estimated growth rate in sales of cloud-based applications, including email programs, according to Gartner.
  • $9.6 billion: The estimated sales figure for cloud-based applications, including email programs, this year.
  • 2010: The year Panasonic signed an agreement with IBM to run a cloud-based email system.

Sources:

  • "Panasonic's 380,000-Strong Workforce Moves to IBM's Cloud Computing" by Euclid Infotech, 2010.
  • Gartner (no date mentioned) estimates sales of cloud-based applications, including email programs.

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