IBM has entered into a seven-year contract with IDEA Cellular to provide a Service Delivery Platform (SDP) to enable the service provider to offer messaging and WAP-based content services to its subscriber base over 2G and 3G wireless networks in India.

IBM said that its SDP will help IDEA integrate content and applications across all of its service lines to deliver a consistently high-quality user experience and bring new services to the marketplace more quickly.

In addition to the overall operations and management of the SDP, the contract is expected to deliver IT systems, software and service for value added revenue services (VAS), such as content management, downloading, portal browsing and subscription services; and integration with Business Support System (BSS), Network elements and other VAS applications.

The contract will also deliver migration of existing messaging services, content-based services, WAP portal and subscription services, IBM said.

The deal builds on the existing 10-year business transformation pact signed between the two companies in March 2007 to integrate, innovate and transform IDEA’s business processes and IT infrastructure. It covered all of IDEA’s existing operations, expansion into new circles and potential new additions.

Prakash Paranjape, chief information officer of IDEA Cellular, said: IDEA has been a pioneer in introducing unique and interesting mobile value added services for subscribers across India. With our rapidly growing subscriber base, IBM’s SDP will pave the way for us to sustain our unique approach by further enhancing our proximity with subscribers, and more importantly provide impetus to innovative initiatives targeted at our valued customers.