Telefonica and NEC tie-up for cloud computing

Telefonica has selected href="http://dqchannels.ciol.com/content/reselleralert/109032003.asp">NEC
as a
strategic partner to promote cloud computing in Latin America. The
deal will enhance NEC's position as a partner of Telefonica in the
major service areas of applications. The project will allow
Telefonica to boost its innovative services in Latin America using a
more efficient model and with reduced time-to-market. Initially,
Telefonica aims to support the business of small and medium
enterprises in Latin America, by breaking down the current entry
barriers to new technologies and to the world of IT applications,
while encouraging an open environment for developers to launch new
applications.

NEC will deploy the platform and
applications to launch cloud services in Latin America, including
logistics, location, collaboration, virtual PC, CRM, ERP, health,
games and media applications. href="http://dqchannels.ciol.com/content/space/110011407.asp">Cloud
computing will play a significant
role in Telefonica's portfolio, with the ability to deliver added
value to both residential and enterprise markets. The new agreement
follows the recent contract signed by NEC and Telefonica of Spain to
launch applications and software-as-a-service. It is part of the
activities of NEC's new European Competence Center for cloud
computing and value-added services, which was established in Madrid
in early 2009.

According to Jaime Serrano, President
and CEO, NEC Iberica, “This deal will mark another step in our
collaboration with the Telefonica Group and reflects the position of
our 'cloud services' offering, which combines NEC's expertise in the
areas of IT and networks, in the market.”