Source: sify.com

Noida-based EON PreMedia and US-based New England Typographic Service (NETS) have announced a joint venture, NETS EON India, to provide offshore digitisation services primarily catering to clients in North America and the UK.

The companies said they are targeting about 10-15% of the $200-300 million global content digitisation pie in the next 3-4 years.

NETS EON India will operate with an initial team of 50 people, which will go up to 100 within six months of starting operations.

The JV will provide content development services, multiple format digital content solutions for the elementary-through-high school educational publishing market.

Privately-held NETS, which already outsources work to EON, said it had no “current plans” to target the Indian market, but added that India was “on radar.”

NETS said the JV with EON augments its production capabilities as it already has too much work to handle.

NETS said it plans to grow both organically and inorganically, but has no plans to go public to raise money.

Source: www.tradingmarkets.com

ACI Worldwide, an international provider of software for electronic payment systems, announced an agreement to outsource its internal information technology (IT) services to IBM.

As part of the agreement, IBM will provide ACI with global infrastructure services including management of ACI’s mainframe, storage and related server platforms, data network monitoring and management, and end-user support services. ACI will retain responsibility for its security policy management and on-demand business operations.

The seven-year agreement is estimated to deliver operating cost savings for ACI of $25 million to $30 million over the course of the contract, providing the company with advanced technology and enhanced service capabilities.

David Morem, senior vice president of global business operations at ACI, said, “This agreement allows ACI to focus on its core competence in developing, delivering and supporting payment solutions for our customers. By outsourcing infrastructure management to IBM, we can leverage their worldwide resources to consolidate our data centers, upgrade hardware and software, and standardize on proven tools and processes to improve our operational performance in our on-demand business and IT infrastructure. IBM will bring enhanced disaster recovery capabilities and more stringent security standards to our IT systems, reducing our risk exposure, and provide an IT foundation that can grow very cost-efficiently as ACI’s global business expands.”

Philip Hausler, vice president for the banking industry at IBM Global Technology Services, said, “This agreement reflects the broad range of services IBM can offer to help customers maximize their efficiency and leverage modern technology. We look forward to serving ACI and adding value to their worldwide business.”

The outsourcing agreement will include incremental cash cost of approximately $4 million of severance expenses, transition costs and professional fees in 2008 and is expected to be cash-positive for ACI primarily due to a decrease in capital expenditures. In addition, ACI expects to incur up to $5.5 million of transition-related charges in 2008 for which cash payment will be deferred and paid out in periodic installments in years 2009 through 2012.