Dedicated IBM Team to Deploy Clarify eFrontOffice for Enterprises, 
    Service Providers

    SAN JOSE, Calif., May 4 /CNW/ - Nortel Networks (NYSE/TSE: NT) and IBM
Global Services (NYSE: IBM) today announced an alliance to offer customer
relationship management (CRM) solutions to organizations worldwide.
    As part of this relationship, IBM will establish a global consulting
practice dedicated to deploying Nortel Networks' Clarify eBusiness
Applications including Clarify eFrontOffice, the first fully integrated CRM
and eBusiness suite that empowers customers to interact with companies on
their own terms via the medium of their choice.
    This new practice is an expansion of an existing software alliance that
includes global financing and DB2 support. IBM Global Financing, the world's
largest information technology financier, is providing financing for hardware
and software services to Nortel Networks customers seeking to deploy Clarify
eFrontOffice. Additionally, Nortel Networks announced that Clarify
eFrontOffice is generally available on the IBM DB2 Universal Database platform
beginning immediately.
    "IBM customers expect and demand scalable, high-performance technology
like Nortel Networks' Clarify eFrontOffice," said David Volpe, vice-president
and global CRM offering executive, IBM Global Services. "We share a vision
with Nortel Networks in empowering companies with eBusiness solutions that
enable greater customer loyalty and return for our clients. Together, IBM and
Nortel Networks can help companies increase their return on relationship and
ensure that the front office is a seamless part of their eBusiness strategy."
    Building on their already renowned CRM expertise, IBM service
professionals worldwide are being trained and certified for Nortel Networks'
Clarify eFrontOffice implementations. IBM will install Clarify eFrontOffice in
its Business Innovation centers worldwide, providing companies with a real-
world environment that demonstrates the benefits of integrating all customer
touch points - including phone, fax, web, e-mail, handheld and in person - and
enabling web-based sales, configuration, ordering and service within a single,
personalized system.
    "IBM's commitment to Nortel Networks continues to grow, and our customers
will benefit even further from this alliance of two eBusiness powerhouses,"
said Tony Zingale, president, Clarify eBusiness Applications, Nortel Networks.
"This relationship gives companies the tools to focus on today's number one
CEO concern - customer loyalty - and to realize greater returns from this
loyalty than ever before possible."
    As part of the new IBM Global Financing alliance, Nortel Networks
customers have access to attractive leasing and financing for their Clarify
eFrontOffice purchase as well as customization and implementation services,
regardless of the type of hardware purchased or the vendor selected to provide
the consulting services. IBM Global Financing enables Nortel Networks
customers to implement the solutions they need while lowering their up-front
expenses, preserving cash flow and working capital, and spreading out costs to
fit their budgets. IBM Global Financing is the world's largest information
technology financier with more than 75,000 customers.
    IBM Global Services is the world's largest information technology
services provider, with 1999 revenues of over US$32 billion. Services is the
fastest growing part of IBM, with more than 130,000 professionals serving
customers in 160 countries. IBM Global Services integrates IBM's broad range
of capabilities - services, hardware, software and research - to help
companies of all sizes realize the full value of information technology. For
more information, visit www.ibm.com/services.
    As the foundation for e-business, DB2 Universal Database is the
industry's first multimedia, Web-ready relational database management system,
strong enough to meet the demands of large corporations and flexible enough to
serve medium-sized and small e-businesses. DB2 Universal Database combines
integrated power for business intelligence, content management, enterprise
information portals and e-business with industry-leading performance and
reliability to drive the most demanding industry solutions. DB2 Universal
Database together with Internet technology makes information easily
accessible, available and secure. There are more than 40 million DB2 users
from over 300,000 companies worldwide relying on IBM data management
solutions. For more information please visit http://www.software.ibm.com/data.
    Nortel Networks is a global leader in telephony, data, eBusiness, and
wireless solutions for the Internet. The Company had 1999 U.S. GAAP revenues
of US$21.3 billion and serves carrier, service provider and enterprise
customers globally. Today, Nortel Networks is creating a high-performance
Internet that is more reliable and faster than ever before. It is redefining
the economics and quality of networking and the Internet through Unified
Networks that promise a new era of collaboration, communications and commerce.
Visit us at www.nortelnetworks.com.



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For further information: Susan MacCall, Nortel Networks (408) 965-7581,
smaccall@nortelnetworks.com; Glenn Hintze, IBM (914) 642-5449,
ghintze@us.ibm.com;
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