Washington Mutual Will Leverage Broad iPlanet Portfolio of
E-Commerce Solutions
SEATTLE and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- iPlanet(TM)
E-Commerce Solutions, a Sun-Netscape Alliance and Washington Mutual, Inc.
(NYSE: WM) today announced the companies are teaming to extend Washington
Mutual's e-commerce initiatives, including its development of a platform that
will support virtually any net-based messaging application. The collaboration
is designed to allow Washington Mutual to gain additional internal
efficiencies and forge stronger relationships with both its consumer and
corporate customers.
As part of the collaborative effort, iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions plans to
provide Washington Mutual with approximately $8 million worth of software and
services to further strengthen the financial services company's e-commerce
platform. Washington Mutual plans to deploy iPlanet software in phases
starting with a new corporate Intranet infrastructure, which will also support
the company's growing Internet traffic. The two companies are also exploring
the use of additional iPlanet solutions, including those that enable Internet
procurement services and wireless access to banking and financial services.
"Our relationship with iPlanet will allow our company to accelerate the
creation of a digital infrastructure leading to much greater organizational
efficiency and a significant reduction in paper-based processes," said Kerry
Killinger, chairman, president and CEO of Washington Mutual. "In addition, the
new infrastructure will provide for greater scalability, enabling Washington
Mutual to become an even more prominent presence in the electronic
marketplace."
"iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions is the perfect partner to help us extend and
leverage our brand equity in the Internet space and to help maintain our
personal touch in serving customers in the growing electronic marketplace,"
Killinger said. "Their exclusive focus on and expertise in Internet-related
e-commerce solutions and their ability to move at 'Net speed' were among the
many reasons we chose them as a partner."
"We are delighted to work with Washington Mutual to implement an advanced
e-commerce strategy that will take its customers' experiences to new heights,"
said Mark Tolliver, president and general manager of iPlanet E-Commerce
Solutions. "Washington Mutual is an innovative forward-thinking leader,
committed to genuine personalized customer service, and it's exciting to work
with a company that is dedicated to expanding and extending its hard-earned
customer service roots through the Internet."
iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions will provide Washington Mutual with an
organizational and architectural model to support its many e-commerce
initiatives. The solution will provide a common, consistent user experience
and allow for personalization, instant messaging and remote access to internal
applications. iPlanet software targeted for Washington Mutual's first
deployment phase includes the industry leading iPlanet Messaging, Directory,
Web, and Application Server software.
Washington Mutual, with assets exceeding $186 billion is one of the
nation's leading financial services providers and focuses on consumers and
small- to mid-size businesses. The company, headquartered in Seattle, has
grown rapidly in recent years by acquiring California-based American Savings,
Great Western Financial, and H.F. Ahmanson. Its business strategy of providing
a higher-level of personalized customer service than its competitors has
helped to make it one of the fastest-growing banks in the country. The company
is currently adding approximately 1,500 new Internet banking customers per
day.
About Washington Mutual, Inc.
With a history dating back to 1889, Washington Mutual is a financial
services company that provides a diversified line of products and services to
consumers and small- to mid-sized businesses. At Dec. 31, 1999, Washington
Mutual and its subsidiaries had assets of $186.51 billion. The company
operates more than 2,000 offices throughout the nation.
About iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions, a Sun-Netscape Alliance
iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions, a Sun-Netscape Alliance, was established in
March 1999 by America Online, Inc. (NYSE: AOL) and Sun Microsystems, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SUNW) to provide easy-to-deploy, comprehensive e-commerce solutions
for the Net Economy. iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions provides the industry's
broadest portfolio of Internet infrastructure and e-commerce applications
software and services. The iPlanet Messaging, Directory, Web, and Application
server software all enjoy number one market share positions. The portfolio
also includes award-winning applications for Strategic Internet Procurement,
Internet Trading Communities, Internet Bill Presentment and Payment, and
Internet Selling within Open Marketplaces. For more information, consult the
iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions Web site at http://www.iplanet.com or call 888-786-8111.
NOTE: Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun Logo and iPlanet are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other
countries. Netscape and the Netscape N logo are registered trademarks of
Netscape Communications Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other
Netscape logos, product names, and service names are also trademarks of
Netscape Communications Corporation, which may be registered in other
countries.
SOURCE iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions
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Related links:
http://www.iplanet.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/585525.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 585525
CONTACT:
Jeff Cox, Sr. Director of Public Relations of
iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions, 650-937-7183; or Libby Hutchinson,
Corporate Public Relations of Washington Mutual, Inc.,
206-461-2484, or 800-228-9268
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