Marcel Origer, IBM Global Services Project Executive, said: "IBM takes charge of complete management of the hardware, maintenance of the operating system, and mainframe system tools at Goodyear. We have put in place security and emergency back-up procedures in case of any system failure. The contract also covers finance for hardware and software applications. Goodyear remains in full charge of applications product-development and maintenance."

IBM was also recently reported to be on the brink of closing an outsourcing deal with Barclays worth an estimated £100 million per year. A spokeswoman for the bank confirmed it was currently in talks with IBM but would not comment on the value of the contract involved.

Shout99.com recent reported that Barclays had introduced one of the highest confirmed rates cuts for IT contractors at 20 per cent from July 1 as part of its pledge to cut costs by £1 billion over four years.

IBM, whose turnover was $35 billion in 2001, also took over IT operations at American Express earlier this year in a seven-year contract worth £2.8 billion.

However, not all of IBM's outsourcing deals have gone so smoothly. A similar deal to provide IT services to Zurich Financial Services worth approximately £400 million fell through at the last minute in November. The insurance giant, CGNU, also scrapped a seven-year outsourcing contract with IBM, worth £124m, after only two years.

IBM was also ousted from continuing to supply IT outsourcing services to the Scottish Parliament in 2000 when the Indian services company, Wipro, was chosen as its favoured supplier.

Andrew Slorance, a spokesman for the Scottish Parliament, told Shout99.com at the time: "Cost is a major factor."

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Richard Powell, © Shout99.com 2002