Verizon Business has signed a services pact with Swisscom to strengthen their agreement to provide global service and support to Swiss multinational companies and companies operating in Switzerland.
The companies have formed a preferred partnership to deliver network and information and communications technology services and solutions to customers.
Swisscom customers with multinational operations will gain access to Verizon's global network and solutions, while Verizon's customers with operations in the Swiss market will benefit from Swisscom's local market expertise, infrastructure and customer service organisation.
The companies say customers served by both companies will gain a better customer experience, with a streamlined service offering around the globe including integrated networks, convergent services, seamless processes and customer services.
Success is by no means guaranteed: the spate of international alliances in the 1990's - such as Global One, Unisource and the alliance between AT&T and BT - demonstrated that business cultures, in-fighting over customer ownership and different business processes proved to be insuperable barriers.
Nevertheless, a specialist team from both companies will be established under the alliance to serve joint multinational customers of Verizon and Swisscom, providing a single point of contact to fulfil local and global communications requirements.
The two companies will continue to operate as usual within the Swiss market and worldwide to serve their respective customers not affected by this alliance.