Accenture, AMS, Unisys Announce Year-End Alliances

Three systems integrators signed new partnership agreements with companies that strengthen their ERP offerings, enhance Web and collaborative software capabilities and bring access to cutting edge technologies.

In the first partnership, Accenture Ltd. has extended its alliance with PeopleSoft Inc., to provide professional services, business strategy, software products and training to clients worldwide in the government and higher education markets, officials at Accenture announced Dec. 19.

Accenture of Hamilton, Bermuda, and PeopleSoft of Pleasanton, Calif., are working together to deliver a full range of solutions to the education and government markets.

These solutions are based on the PeopleSoft 8 suite of Internet business applications. The applications include human resources financial management, student administration and customer relationship management solutions.

The companies have partnered on more than 180 major engagements since 1993, Accenture said.

The companies' government customers include the U.S. State Department, New York Office of the Comptroller, the New Zealand Customs Service and the French Ministry of Finance and Industry. In addition, both companies have provided services to 16 universities.

In the second partnership, American Management Systems Inc. announced Dec. 17 that it has formed a new partnership with Venetica Inc.

Under the terms of the agreement, AMS of Fairfax, Va., will resell the flagship product developed by Venetica of Charlotte, N.C.

The product, VeniceBridge, enables customer to incorporate relevant content into portals, collaborative applications, customer relationship management systems and other key applications.

The product provides a single interface to multiple, disparate repositories that store documents, images, reports, rich media and other unstructured content.

In the third partnership, Unisys Corp. of Blue Bell, Pa., announced Dec. 20 that it has signed a value-added reseller agreement with Fonix Corp of Salt Lake City to resell text-to-speech software.

The Unisys Natural Language Speech Solutions group plans to integrate Fonix TTS software into its service creation environment to develop high-quality, speech-enabled applications such as voice activated dialing, voice portals and unified messaging.

Unisys implements these speech technologies for clients in the transportation, financial services, public sector and healthcare industries.