Cable & Wireless Optus has signed an agreement with the DLA Group to deploy the Omnis software development architecture across the company.
Omnis is a cross-platform relational database language that DLA distributes in Australia.
According to David Lewis, managing director of DLA, the deal includes the deployment of the Omnis software architecture as well as licences for use internally in Australia and New Zealand.
Whilst unable to quote a figure for the deal, Lewis said the agreement was a strategic move for both C&W Optus and DLA.
"[Omnis] is a totally cross-platform solution . . . any application is able to be used simultaneously across platforms," Lewis said.
"It means for Optus, which has a very big mixed environment, the same piece of software can be deployed anywhere."
According to Lewis, it is understood that C&W Optus has a strategy in place to move from Macintosh to Windows NT.
By deploying Omnis, the telco provider does not waste money on new applications because everything developed under Omnis is compatible for all platforms, Lewis said.
He said DLA will be working with C&W Optus, and outsourcing partner IBM, on software development projects using Omnis.
"We are in negotiations with IBM already to provide software development services under the IBM [outsourcing] arrangement," Lewis said, adding that DLA has already done some software development work with C&W Optus.
Although Lewis was unwilling to discuss the finer details of the deal, he did say C&W Optus will be using the solution in its billing area.
C&W Optus declined to comment on their plans for Omnis, except to say it will cater for 1200 user seats and might not be used company-wide.