SBC, Cisco Form Outsourcing Alliance

Under the agreement, San Antonio-based SBC plans to package its transport and networking design, delivery and management services with Cisco's IP and data networking technology.

As a result of the deal, San Jose, Calif.-based Cisco becomes the preferred provider for SBC managed services, including IP telephony, network and customer premises-based IP VPN, security, storage, networking, hosting and wireless LANs.

The solution sets are expected to be released in 2003 and 2004 and will be sold through direct and indirect channels.

"Our sales force will work in conjunction with SBC's to collaborate on joint account and sales planning, joint development of an indirect sales strategy as well as deployment of the services," said Paul Mountford, vice president of worldwide channels at Cisco Systems, in a statement.

SBC is one of the Cisco's largest service provider partners. Since 2000, SBC has processed a total of 19,000 customer orders, including Cisco products.