Cable & Wireless Optus has announced a joint venture with United States-based companies SAPMarkets and Commerce One, to better connect its Australian and New Zealand business customers to global e-marketplaces.
Under the agreement, the already established CWO MarketSite - the e-marketplace for C&W Optus - will provide global trading opportunities with Commerce One partners for Australian and New Zealand businesses.
"CWO MarketSite provides single connection to multiple trading partners and potential cross-border connection via the Commerce One Global Trading Web," C&W Optus Director of Data and Business Services Chris Hancock said.
The companies will jointly identify, market and distribute e-commerce solutions and services to selected customer accounts in targeted industries and markets.
SAPMarkets delivers business solutions that automate business processes across boundaries. Commerce One is an e-marketplace company, which enables worldwide commerce on the Internet.
"The alliance creates a high profile, one-stop-shop for all the e-commerce requirements of business customers. With CWO MarketSite as the foundation, businesses can connect to an already established e-marketplace and their time to market and investment will be reduced,"
C&W Optus also announced it has received a share of its 40 percent holding in the Southern Cross Cable Network, a windfall worth AU$160 million.
According to Hancock, demand for trans-Pacific capacity has significantly exceeded the company's original forecasts.
"The US$1.6 billion sales announced by Southern Cross to date comfortably covers all construction and development costs. As has been reported by our Southern Cross partners, the company is now solidly delivering return on investment," Hancock said.
