Verizon, SAP Team Up on Cloud Enterprise Application Delivery

NEW YORK and NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa., March 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and SAP America, a subsidiary of SAP AG (NYSE: SAP), announced on Wednesday (March 16)  that they will jointly deliver the SAP® Customer Relationship Management (SAP CRM) rapid-deployment solution to enterprise workers through Verizon's flagship cloud offering, Computing as a Service. Workers will now be able to access SAP CRM from their desktops or their mobile devices.

The SAP CRM rapid-deployment solution, the first in a series of SAP solutions deployed in the cloud by Verizon, can help enhance the productivity of enterprise sales, marketing and service professionals. By accessing SAP CRM and subsequent applications in the cloud, enterprises can benefit from easier and faster deployments. The SAP rapid-deployment solution offers enterprises a ready-to-use combination of software, pre-defined services and pre-configured content at a pre-defined price that can be deployed much more quickly, sometimes in as little as eight weeks.

Additionally, enterprises can now integrate their SAP applications with Verizon's Managed Mobility platform by leveraging the Sybase® Unwired Platform to mobilize applications including the Mobile Sales for SAP CRM application.  As a result, sales representatives will be able to gain access to up-to-the-minute customer information via their hand-held devices, enabling them to make better informed decisions virtually anywhere, anytime.

"Enterprises are truly changing the way they do business," said Kerry Bailey, group president, cloud strategy and services for Verizon. "Verizon and SAP have joined forces to harness the true potential of the cloud by delivering proven enterprise applications that enable workers to enhance their ability to serve clients and to better business outcomes. Together, we are opening up a whole new world that allows clients to truly work without boundaries."

Bailey added, "This is yet another step in our path to deliver 'everything-as-a-service' -- a path that offers increased flexibility and better economics for our business and government clients."

Benefits of Delivering SAP Applications through Cloud Computing

The cloud-based delivery of SAP applications enables enterprises to deploy SAP application functionality in a highly scalable and even more affordable manner. It provides global users with secure, reliable access to essential business applications while helping companies contain hardware and management costs associated with traditional software deployment models.

"By offering SAP Rapid Deployment solutions via the cloud, SAP is helping companies to expand the strategic capabilities of their workforces," said Robert Viehmann senior vice president, solution assembly and packaging, SAP AG. "Today's announcement with Verizon accelerates the value companies can gain from our offerings, while controlling costs for an immediate business benefit."

As part of the SAP CRM rapid-deployment solution on Verizon's Computing as a Service (CaaS), services will be delivered based on the user-subscription license model through which customers can pay per user, per month for the application, the cloud hosting services, infrastructure and management services.

Verizon CaaS offers enterprise clients an advanced application delivery system comprising integrated delivery centers around the globe and underpinned by the Verizon global IP network, one of the world's most connected. Clients can also leverage the Verizon private network for additional protection.

The service, supported by a dedicated help desk operated according to an internationally recognized set of best practices called Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), provides customers with a single point of accountability and a structured management approach for service-related matters. Clients also have visibility into the Verizon CaaS-based delivery of SAP applications via a secure Web portal.

SAP and Verizon's Expanding Relationship

In mid-2010, Verizon became a SAP-certified global provider of cloud-based services -- the first to receive this certification from SAP. Earlier that year, SAP certified Verizon as a global provider of hosting services for the delivery of SAP applications. Verizon also launched a new application management service in January 2010 that offers enterprises end-to-end management of SAP applications and delivery platforms with custom service-level guarantees that extend beyond server and application availability to include transaction and business-process metrics.

Verizon IT Solutions

From cloud computing to IT consulting services, Verizon makes it easier for customers to build the right foundation to meet often complex requirements. Visit the Verizon IT Solutions & Hosting website for more information.

Verizon is a global leader in driving better business outcomes for enterprises and government agencies. Verizon delivers integrated IT and communications solutions via its high-IQ global IP and mobility networks to enable businesses to securely access information, share content and communicate. Verizon is rapidly transforming to a cloud-based "everything-as-a-service" delivery model that will put the power of enterprise-class solutions within the reach of every business. Find out more at www.verizonbusiness.com.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 94.1 million customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 194,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

About SAP

As the market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device – SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 109,000 customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com.

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SOURCE Verizon