Nortel, IBM Expand Agreement

BOSTON -- Nortel Networks [NYSE/TSE: NT] has expanded its reseller agreement with IBM Global Services, enabling the world's largest information technology services provider to deliver Nortel Networks end-to-end intelligent optical networking solutions for cost-effective management of value-added, high bandwidth applications to enterprises and carriers worldwide. Already a "Nortel Networks Global Solutions Partner," IBM has added Nortel Networks OPTera* Metro 3500, 5200 and 5300 Multiservice Platforms; Nortel Networks Alteon* Web switches; and Nortel Networks Shasta* 5000 Broadband Service Node (BSN) to its comprehensive solution set. IBM Global Services will provide end-to-end support for these products - including consulting, implementation, and post-sale support - for enterprise customers worldwide. "This next step in our relationship with IBM allows us to build integrated communications solutions that leverage Nortel Networks optical expertise and IBM's eBusiness leadership," said Peter Evans, Metro Optical Solutions, Nortel Networks. "Together, we are positioning our service provider and enterprise customers for new levels of profitability, and reducing the metropolitan networking bottleneck to make cost-effective services a reality." Nortel Networks Corp. IBM Global Services