Mumbai: Patni Computer Systems, India''s sixth largest IT services exporter (source: Nasscom), has announced an OEM agreement with InteQ, a US-based provider of remote network management service software. This alliance will enable Patni to provide more extensive infrastructure management services (IMS) and further tap into the expanding IMS market estimated to reach $19.5 billion by 2007 (source: IDC).

Patni plans to spend around $6 million in technology and infrastructure for the enhanced services to be provided out of facilities in the United States and India. This will include building a new state-of-the-art network operations centre in India. With this, Patni will become one of the few Indian IT services companies to deliver IMS with onshore and offshore functionality and resources.

The partnership will enable Patni to offer a complete suite of service offerings comprising remote monitoring, Web-enabled service desks, performance reporting and problem resolution.

"Patni is committed to delivering the best possible IT services at the lowest possible cost to our clients. This partnership will enable us to tie together state-of-the-art technology with best-in-class design, implementation and consulting service executed using a global delivery model," said Satish Joshi, senior vice-president, Patni. "Leveraging the strength of both companies, Patni will offer a more compelling value proposition to provide increased utilisation of clients'' existing IT assets, enhance their staff productivity and significantly reduce the cost of managing IT infrastructure."