Accenture, Loudcloud aligning on Net
The management and technology consulting firm says it is teaming with the software services provider to market and deliver Web-focused services.
Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will collaborate to deliver consulting services from Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting) for implementing technology systems and Loudcloud's hosted Opsware automation technology, which is designed to handle operational aspects of customer Web sites, the companies said in a joint statement.
The deal comes just a week after Loudcloud reported a fiscal fourth-quarter loss of $58.8 million on sales of $8.9 million. The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company, founded by Web pioneer Marc Andreessen, has also seen its stock drop more than 20 percent since its initial public offering March 8, in which it raised $150 million after twice reducing the asking price for the stock to entice buyers.
Accenture, based in New York, said it is looking to use the partnership to sharpen its focus in the market for Internet-hosted outsourcing. "We are finding that our clients are increasingly interested in implementing Internet-hosted outsourcing services," Martin Cole, managing partner of Accenture's Solution Operations, said in a statement. "Because Loudcloud specializes in creating and managing scalable foundations for Internet sites, it meets the needs of such clients."
The companies have agreed to identify, pursue and refer each other to business opportunities in which both their business offerings and integration services will be employed.