Service Level Agreements Announced for IP Remote Access Dial to the IBM Global Network

IBM Sets Pace in Global Deployment of ITU V.90 Modem Standard

SOMERS, NY (April 21, 1998) – Responding to customer requirements for highly-reliable network dial connectivity to back their remote workers and telecommuters, IBM today announced industry-leading service level agreements for IP remote access to the IBM Global Network.
IBM also is setting the industry pace in the global deployment of the new International Telecommunications Union V.90 modem standard for speeds up to 56 Kbps. As of today, approximately 400 network points of presence have been upgraded and deployment is continuing rapidly.
In addition, IBM’s Options Group announced V.90 support for its 56 Kbps modems. Customers desiring more information on these products and the V.90 free upgrade should visit http://www.ibm.com/pc/us/options/modems/56k.html
Other managed network services enhancements announced today include:
IBM Corporate Messaging Services, previously available in Europe, is now available in the U.S. It provides custom-designed and managed messaging infrastructures for large national and multinational enterprises.
A new version of IBM Workgroup Services that provides support for Lotus Domino/Notes Release 4.6.
IP REMOTE ACCESS SERVICE LEVEL ENHANCEMENTS
With today’s announcement, IBM is supporting the IP remote access component of IBM Managed Data Network Services with service levels that set high accessibility objectives, 95 percent, for successful connections to the IBM Global Network and provide monthly reports on performance. For an additional fee, customers may receive a report measuring their individual service levels for the month. Also offered is a gold plan service level agreement for customers who sign a three-year, $750,000 commitment for IP remote access charges. The gold plan offers additional reporting and reviews, as well as credits if objectives are not met (please see fact sheet at end for more details). Planned availability for the U.S. is July 1, 1998.
IBM is deploying recently-introduced AccessRamp technology from Inverse Network Technology to help measure IBM Managed Data Network Services remote access reliability from the customer perspective. AccessRamp is the industry’s first Internet diagnostic system to provide real-time data on the “access experience,” according to Inverse.
Kitty Weldon, a senior analyst with Boston-based The Yankee Group, in commenting on today’s announcement, noted that a number of service providers, including IBM, offer service levels for dedicated network connections, “but it has been extremely difficult to get providers to provide them for dial-up remote access traffic.
“IBM is providing a high level of customer choice as well as a unique set of remote access service levels that go beyond those of competitive offerings,” she said. “The Yankee Group hopes this will set a precedent in the industry — to meet customer requirements for remote access services and granular reporting options.”

Source: IBM

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