MUMBAI -- Cisco (NasdaqGS:CSCO - News) and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) today announced that they have entered into a strategic alliance to develop and deliver information technology (IT) service solutions to help customers build or evolve next-generation data centres by taking advantage of the network as a platform. Under the agreement, TCS will build a new technology practice focused on Cisco's industry-leading data centre networking and security solutions. The companies also announced the formation of a Cisco® Technology Lab at the TCS campus in Chennai, India. This announcement was made at a press conference attended by Mr. John Chambers, chairman and CEO for Cisco, and Mr. S. Ramadorai, chief executive officer and managing director for TCS.

Cisco and TCS are developing go-to-market solutions that meet the infrastructure and network requirements of global corporations. Both companies will invest in skills development and training labs to provide an end-to-end solution to meet customer requirements.

As part of the new practice, TCS will incorporate Cisco's Data Centre 3.0 technologies, with TCS' industry-leading IT services, business solutions and outsourcing. The practice will focus on helping customers develop next-generation virtualized data centres and achieve greater operational and energy efficiency. The companies will also explore new networking innovations to address the needs of large and small businesses for IT services.

"Customers are demanding greater dynamism from their IT infrastructure and application environment to address current challenges and to capitalize on opportunities whenever and wherever they emerge," said Mr. N Chandrasekaran, chief operating officer and executive director of TCS. "This strategic alliance will take advantage of Cisco's industry-leading data centre networking solutions and TCS' global network delivery model to help our customers increase the efficiency and agility of their IT operations."

Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO)

Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.