Microsoft teams for Net systems
The software giant is joining with European systems integrator Cap Gemini to build commercial Internet systems for the telecommunications market.
Cap Gemini will create a center in Paris dedicated to providing consulting and services to build Internet applications that combine its customer service and other applications with Microsoft's Windows NT-based Commercial Internet System (MCIS) applications software.
MCIS includes email, news, and online chat servers, intranet and extranet hosting, and real-time transaction processing for e-commerce applications.
Cap Gemini will also port its existing customer care and billing software for Internet services to Windows NT, the company said.
The deal is intended to help Cap Gemini expand the existing services it provides to telecommunications companies. The company already derives a large part of its revenues by providing software and services to the telecom market. Cap Gemini said it wants to offer additional services to telecom providers as they move into the Internet service provider area.
The company claims to serve 16 of the world's 20 largest telecommunications companies.