In what looks like a major boost for privately-held call center software house Chordiant Systems Inc, MCI Corp’s systems integration arm, MCI Systemhouse, has signed up the Palo Alto, California-based firm as its partner for call center software. The two will deliver high-end systems for MCI strategic accounts in commercial, regulated and government sectors, including financial services, telecoms, banking and travel. The MCI- Chordiant product will be sold under the name Customer Interaction Solutions, and includes a combination of applications, telephony and legacy services expertise. MCI Systemhouse will train 200 additional consultants on Chordiant’s CCS Customer Communications Software, and the two will set up a joint software factory for the product. The $4bn Canadian Tire Corp Ltd was announced as the latest customer for the joint venture. MCI Systemhouse will also use Chordiant software for its own internal call centers. The two first signed a strategic vendor alliance in May 1997, when Chordiant, which for the first 12 years of its life was known under the name J Frank Consulting Inc, first launched its high-end CCS call center product. In August 1997, the company raised $9.2m in venture capital (CI No 3,223).
