<p IBM announced that the company has signed a five-year outsourcing agreement with Sony Ericsson regarding the management of Application Maintenance and Development of all of Sony Ericsson's SAP applications globally.

IBM will leverage their global leadership in Application Management Services for the delivery of best-in-class solutions to support Sony Ericsson’s operations and business improvement initiatives in an efficient and cost effective manner.

Sony Ericsson, a fifty-fifty joint venture of Sony Corporation and Ericsson, was established in October 2001. Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications is a global provider of mobile multimedia devices, including feature-rich phones, accessories and PC cards. The products combine powerful technology with innovative applications for mobile imaging, music, communications and entertainment.

“This relationship with Sony Ericsson is a good example of IBM’s commitment to deliver high value services that enable customers to be more efficient and focused on their core business,” says John Blackburn, Vice President IBM Global Business Services.