DENVER, Aug 28, 2001 /PRNewswire/ --
Signs Exclusive Agreement With The Largest Philippine Telecommunications Provider
TeleTech Holdings, Inc.
(Nasdaq: TTEC), a leading global provider of customer relationship management
(CRM) services and solutions, today announced an exclusive agreement with
Philippines Long Distance Company (PLDT), the largest telecommunications
provider in the Philippines and the second largest company in the country.
The agreement provides for PLDT, through its wholly owned subsidiary ePLDT, to
fund and build customer interaction centers in Manila exclusively for TeleTech.
TeleTech will bring its proven management expertise to run the centers along
with its strong global marketing capability. As a result, TeleTech will be able
to offer its global clients a highly cost effective, English language CRM
solution from the Philippines. This solution will be offered to clients in the
United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other English speaking
countries.
The first center is expected to open in the fourth quarter of this year with
approximately 500 workstations. The center will utilize PLDT's highly reliable,
fiber optic Global Point of Presence Network, which spans 8 countries worldwide
to carry voice and data traffic. It will also capitalize on PLDT's array of data
center services to deliver superior technological solutions to TeleTech's
clients worldwide.
"Our global clients are increasingly interested in leveraging international
labor to deliver exceptional customer service at significantly lower costs and
we have been very successful executing this labor arbitrage strategy in both
Canada and Mexico," stated Ken Tuchman, TeleTech's Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer. "Partnering with PLDT, the largest telecommunications provider in the
Philippines, gives us the ability to further strengthen our offshore,
English-language CRM offering and we believe this positions TeleTech as the
largest provider of labor arbitrage in the industry."
Mr. Tuchman added, "We reviewed the best locations for TeleTech to expand its
English language capabilities and felt the Philippines offered tremendous
advantages. The key attraction to the Philippines is its technologically
advanced telecom infrastructure combined with its highly educated,
customer-service oriented, English speaking workforce."
A recent survey of top executives conducted by Hong Kong's Political and
Economic Risk Consultancy rated the Philippines better than virtually any other
country in Asia on the quality, cost and availability of skilled labor.
"We are excited to be TeleTech's exclusive provider of customer interaction
center infrastructure in the Philippines," said ePLDTs Managing Director Ray
Espinosa. "TeleTech is the premier global provider of CRM services and has a
proven reputation for providing complex, fully integrated CRM solutions to some
of the most prestigious companies in the world. TeleTech was an ideal partner
given the scale, scope and complexity of their CRM offerings."
TELETECH PROFILE
Founded in 1982, TeleTech is a leading provider of integrated customer
relationship management (CRM) services and solutions for global organizations
predominantly in the communications, financial services, government and
transportation industries. TeleTech has operations in 11 countries, which
include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, New Zealand,
Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. TeleTech's CRM
capabilities, including B2B electronic channel management and database
management, help companies inform, acquire, serve, grow and retain their
customers throughout the entire relationship lifecycle. TeleTech integrates a
full spectrum of voice and Internet communications, including custom e-mail
response, "chat" and extensive Web co-browsing capabilities. Information
regarding TeleTech Holdings can be found on the Worldwide Web at
http://www.teletech.com.
PHILIPPINES LONG DISTANCE COMPANY (PLDT) PROFILE
PLDT is the leading supplier of domestic and international telecommunications
services in the Philippines. Listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE: TEL)
and with ADRs listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: PHI) and the Pacific
Exchange, Manila-based PLDT is actively pursuing a convergence strategy through
its three principal business groups -- fixed line, wireless and ePLDT. These
businesses provide a comprehensive menu of products and services for over 7.3
million subscribers across the most extensive broadband and integrated networks
in the country.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
All statements not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements that
involve substantial risks and uncertainties. In accordance with the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, following are important factors that
could cause TeleTech's actual results to differ materially from those expressed
or implied by such forward-looking statements: lower than anticipated customer
interaction center capacity utilization; the loss or delay in implementation of
a customer management program; TeleTech's ability to build-out facilities in a
timely and economic manner; greater than anticipated competition from new
entrants into the customer care market, causing increased price competition or
loss of clients; the loss of one or more significant clients; higher than
anticipated start-up costs associated with new business opportunities and
ventures; TeleTech's ability to predict future revenues and associated costs, as
well as the potential volume or profitability of any future technology or
consulting sales; TeleTech's agreements with clients may be canceled on
relatively short notice; and TeleTech's ability to generate a specific level of
revenue is dependent upon customer interest in and use of the Company's clients'
products and services. Readers are encouraged to review TeleTech's 2000 Annual
Report on Form 10-K, first and second quarter 2001 Form 10-Qs, and other
publicly filed documents which describe other important factors that may impact
TeleTech's business, results of operations and financial condition. TeleTech
undertakes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements after the date
of this release.
SOURCE TeleTech Holdings, Inc.
CONTACT: Karen Breen, +1-303-397-8592, Karen.breen@teletech.com, or Dan
Campbell, Investor Relations, +1-303-397-8634, Dan.campbell@teletech.com, both
of TeleTech Holdings, Inc.; or Alberto Santos, Center Head, Multi Channel
Contact Center of Philippines Long Distance Company, 63-2-816-8559
