Paris - US computer services giant Hewlett Packard and French-American telecommunications equipment supplier Alcatel-Lucent said Thursday they are forming a 10-year-global alliance to help customers combine telecommunication and internet technology
(IT).

In a joint statement, the companies said they planned to launch a global program to transform communication networks "into converged, next-generation infrastructures."

They also said they planned to create a joint initiative to provide communications solutions to mid-sized and large companies and public sector organizations.

"IT and telecom are coming together in an unprecedented way and I am delighted to see how we can speed up innovation in our industry," said Alcatel-Lucent chief Ben Verwaayen.

As part of the agreement, Hewlett Packard would be entrusted with a large part of Alcatel-Lucent9s IT operations. (dpa)