Cisco and IBM are working together to sell Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones. VoIP offers business the chance to make big savings on long-distance phone calls by routing calls over the Internet rather than through a telco's expensive network. They are being heavily hyped as "the next big thing".
The main advantage of the deal is that IBM Global Services will now sell Cisco products. Their combined products will also be offered to independent resellers.
Read more: The Register.