Optus has appointed Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE: CSC) to help augment development capability and assist in the rapid deployment of applications and infrastructure.
The five-year outsourcing contract, estimated to be initially worth AUD$20 million, allows Optus greater flexibility and speed in providing Optus' customer, suppliers and staff an enhanced ability to deal with Optus on-line.
The outsourcing initiative covers support and maintenance of various web sites, as well as the development of applications and infrastructure for Optus.
CSC will employ staff from Optus' existing web enablement team and will become Optus' preferred supplier for web-enabled development and maintenance services. The Optus staff will form part of the growing eBusiness team within CSC and will benefit from CSC's commitment to their long-term development.
Julia Bowen, Optus Director Programmes, said in the past 12 months the Optus web enablement team has developed a solid infrastructure.
"The existing infrastructure will allow rapid application deployment and the ability to operate across different technology platforms including handheld computers and WAP."
"This partnership will also provide our staff with exciting career opportunities in the e-business technical field." Ms Bowen said.
"We will continue to outsource systems development to meet our business objectives. By combining CSC's scale and expertise with Optus' innovative infrastructure we will increase the strength of our applications offering."
Ms Bowen said Optus customers will benefit from more personalised avenues to access Optus services including account self-help, an increased ability to combine product offerings and manage value added services.
CSC's Australian Operation Vice President, Account Marketing Matt McGuire said, "We are delighted that CSC has been chosen to provide these strategic services and we look forward to welcoming Optus staff to CSC."
"By delivering the benefits of CSC's local and global capabilities, we can further strengthen the push to innovate e-commerce capability within Optus."
McGuire said that CSC would be introducing world's best practices in methodologies and process to the Optus web environment to assist in speed to market. The successful implementation of a sophisticated knowledge management system will keep track of the intellectual property developed on behalf of Optus.
About CSC Computer Sciences Corporation, one of the world's leading consulting and information technology (IT) services firms, helps clients in industry and government achieve strategic and operational results through the use of technology. The company's success is based on its culture of working collaboratively with clients to develop innovative technology strategies and solutions that address specific business challenges.
Having guided clients through every major wave of change in information technology since 1959, CSC combines the newest technologies with its capabilities in consulting, systems design and integration, IT and business process outsourcing, applications software, and Web and application hosting to meet the individual needs of global corporations and organizations. With more than 68,000 employees in locations worldwide, CSC had revenues of $10.2 billion for the twelve months ended December 29, 2000. It is headquartered in El Segundo, California. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.csc.com.
Tony Rasman
Public Relations Consultant for CSC
Phone: +61 2 9956 8000
Email: tony@stratcom.net.au
Eilish Doherty
National Communications Director CSC
Phone: +61 2 9901 1364
Email: edohert2@csc.com.au
Melissa Favero
Manager, Media and Public Affairs
Phone: +61 2 9342 5030
Email: melissa.favero@cwo.com.au