IBM TEAMS UP WITH AMERITECH
By Adnews Staff
International Business Machines Corp. has joined forces with another U.S.-based high tech firm, Ameritech, to market integrated voice, data and video desktop services for businesses. The two partners will establish a customer service facility to be operated by Ameritech.
Former Ameritech executive James Firestone was hired last year to take charge of IBM's new worldwide consumer division. IBM announced last August that it was forming the new division to gain a foothold in the home market. The unit took over development and marketing of the Aptiva line from the personal computer division. It also took over multimedia software and on-line services. According to IBM research, global consumer spending on computer products and services will rise from $54 billion(US) in 1993 to $116 billion in 1998.