Maersk and Equant to Support Transportation Industry

March 21, 2002 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Maersk Data USA (maerskdata-usa.com), an IT consulting and development company, announced on Tuesday that it plans to provide advanced services to the operators of the world’s ports, connecting them all to its transportation hub via an application service provider model, through an agreement with IP and data services leader Equant (equant.com)

The Maersk ASP service package, supported by Equant’s IP VPN service in more than 135 countries and territories, is designed to offer transportation operators around the world significant cost and operational advantages, says the company, at a time when privatization and new competition are creating opportunities and challenges for the industry.

Using the Equant IP VPN solution, Maersk says it will provide a variety of applications to its customers, who, says the company, might not otherwise be able to justify expenses like servers, software licenses and increased staff. Through the ASP model, Maersk delivers its applications on a pay-as-you-go basis.

"Equant offers our business global reach with one of the most sophisticated networks in the industry," says Aksel L. Nielsen, president of Maersk Data USA. "This partnership enables Maersk Data USA to deliver application service provider-based services to customers around the world, including container terminals within ports, railroad depots, trucking companies and other support organizations in regions beyond the ports."

Mersk Data USA says it chose Equant’s IP VPN solution for its reputation as a secure, reliable source of cost-effective global connectivity. The company expects the network and value-added services provided by Equant to generate more than $17 million in revenues over three years.

Maersk Data USA joins Equant’s already large base of customers in the transportation sector, an industry that Equant says it has taken a leadership role in providing with communications services.