Virgin Mobile and IBM Ink Services Deal

BOULDER, Colo., Jul 07, 2008 (ASCRIBE NEWS via COMTEX) -- VM | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Virgin Mobile USA has signed a services agreement for Information Technology (IT) operations and new applications development with IBM.

The agreement will allow Virgin Mobile USA to enhance its technology capabilities and improve its product portfolio for new and existing customers by affording the company access to IBM's telecommunications industry experience and IT resources.

Under the terms of the new services agreement, IBM will begin transitioning Virgin Mobile USA's existing IT infrastructure and application suite into its own environment. Simultaneously and continuing over the course of the next five years, IBM will work with Virgin Mobile USA to develop new and differentiated wireless applications and service offerings. Specifically, IBM will provide Virgin Mobile USA with data center outsourcing and application management services including maintenance and development.

Virgin Mobile USA expects that, as a result of its new relationship with IBM, the company will realize IT-related operational cost savings over the next five years, while amplifying the company's competitive advantage in new product and service delivery. The expected benefits of the company's new relationship with IBM are key components of Virgin Mobile USA's focused expansion and value creation strategy.

The company expects the transition of its existing IT infrastructure and application suite to IBM to be completed by December 31.

"We have built our success as a customer-centric innovator, and always seek to enhance our product and service offerings," said Jonathan Marchbank, Chief Operations Officer, Virgin Mobile USA. "These steps will continue to raise the standards in the prepaid market overall and allow us to stay current with, and ahead of, trends and evolutions in the overall wireless industry. With over 5 million customers, the scale we've achieved now puts us in a position to take advantage of IBM's proven best practices, scope and unparalleled experience in running and building IT infrastructure."

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