IBM’s systems integration push has made another breakthrough with the news that it is to be the subcontractor to MCI Communications Inc on a $50m five-year effort to design and operate an advanced network management and control system for Merrill Lynch & Co’s worldwide telecommunications network. The new services are in addition to the $150m contract awarded to MCI by Merrill in June for worldwide voice and data services. IBM will provide network management services, including performance and problem management as well as change and configuration management, while MCI will do network design, capacity planning and disaster recovery planning. By mid-1990, with the completion of a new market data system being installed by Merrill for its financial consultants, over 20,000 IBM PS/2 computers will have been installed at the New York broker’s offices worldwide. The new pact is due to be finalised by mid-October.
