Nokia, the world's leader in mobile communications, and IBM have signed an IT services agreement under which IBM will globally run IT Helpdesk operations as well as manage and develop Nokia's desktop IT environment towards a more resilient model embracing advanced technologies and ongoing innovations.

The IT services agreement is valued at approximately 200 million Euros over a 5-year period. As part of this agreement around 430 people will join IBM from Nokia in 36 countries. The services under the agreement will be delivered in 57 countries.

"We have chosen to outsource the management of our desktop IT environment as part of an initiative to focus on core Business Infrastructure and IT activities and to improve service flexibility and cost efficiency, enabling a higher level of business agility. This agreement ensures that we benefit from IBM's latest technologies for our businesses through on-demand services", said Gordon Jack, Vice President, Business Infrastructure, Nokia.

"IBM sees this agreement with Nokia as a significant extension of our relationship with a valued customer," said Peter Holland, General Manager, Service delivery, IBM EMEA. "IBM's Workplace on demand solutions will enable us to further develop the desktop infrastructure technologies together with Nokia to benefit its transformation to a variable desktop services model. These services offer a way in which business customers can maintain equipment from desktops to mobile devices with consumption based pricing."