Shell, IMB unveil pact

Shell, IMB unveil pact

ARMONK, New York (AFP): The Royal Dutch/Shell Group oil conglomerate and IBM Friday announced a five-year, multi-million dollar strategic alliance.

The three hubs will be located in Kuala Lumpur, The Hague, and Houston.

The pact calls for IBM to supply the technology for Shell's three new worldwide computer services hubs that will consolidate the oil conglomerate's data networks.

Company officials said the agreement to exceed will exceed US$100 million in value.

In a statement, Shell general manager Alan Matula called the partnership "one of the most important IT (information technology) initiatives in Shell's history."

The goal of the project, the companies said, was to integrate all of Shell's computer systems into a single network.