SugarCRM, the world's leading provider of commercial open source customer relationship management (CRM) software, today announced a new partnership with Tata Communications, the leading global provider of a new world of communications in India. Under terms of the agreement, Tata Communications will now offer SugarCRM’s On-Demand CRM services to small, medium and large enterprises in India at an affordable cost.

SugarCRM’s solution offers customers greater control and lower risk for their CRM deployment by delivering its solution over the web via the cloud or software-as-a-service (SaaS) model. By partnering with SugarCRM, Tata Communications’ customers quickly gain access to a robust on-demand CRM service that reduce the risks and costs associated with proprietary on-demand solutions. Tata Communications will manage this service out of its world class, internationally certified datacenters.

“The market for on-demand CRM in India is over Rs.150 crore ($32 million) in 2009 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 50-60% for the next few years,” said, Mr Alok Bardiya, vice president, partner and alliance strategy, Tata Communications. “With our world-class infrastructure and leadership in emerging markets, Tata Communications is uniquely positioned to serve this market need.”

SugarCRM’s industry winning commercial products deliver proven results to over 4,000 customers in 195 countries. SugarCRM’s software includes features that improve sales force automation, marketing automation, customer support and reporting processes enabling superior products at an affordable cost.

“Our broad market reach and managed services expertise makes Tata Communications the perfect match for the Indian market when combined with the best in class CRM capabilities of SugarCRM,” said Mr Sunil Joshi, president, enterprise business, Tata Communications. “Our partnership will enable us to offer a high-quality CRM solution to Indian businesses at an affordable price.”

“We are thrilled to be working with Tata Communications to deliver the many recognized benefits of SugarCRM’s open source business model to its customers,” said Jeff Campbell, vice president of channel sales at SugarCRM. “We look forward to working with the esteemed firm to serve the Indian market.”

About SugarCRM:

SugarCRM is a world leading provider of commercial open source customer relationship management (CRM) software for companies of all sizes. SugarCRM easily adapts to any business environment by offering a more flexible, cost-effective alternative than proprietary applications. SugarCRM’s open source architecture allows companies to more easily customize and integrate customer-facing business processes in order to build and maintain more profitable relationships. SugarCRM offers several deployment options, including on-demand, on-site and appliance-based solutions to suit customers’ security, integration and configuration needs. Close to 4000 customers world-wide are using SugarCRM, including Yahoo!, Starbucks, and Shinsei Bank.

About Tata Communications:

Tata Communications, a member of the $62.5 billion Tata Group, is a leading global provider of a new world of communications. The emerging markets communications leader leverages its advanced solutions capabilities and domain expertise across its global and pan-India network to deliver managed solutions to multi-national and Indian enterprises, service providers and Indian consumers.

Tata Communications’ range of services include transmission, IP, converged voice, mobility, managed network connectivity, hosting and storage, managed security, managed collaboration and business transformation for global enterprises and service providers, as well as Internet, retail broadband and content services for Indian consumers. The Tata Global Network encompasses one of the most advanced and largest submarine cable networks, a Tier-1 IP network, with connectivity to more than 200 countries across 300 Pops, and more than 1 million square feet of data center and co-location facilities.

Tata Communications’ unique emerging market depth and breadth of reach includes a national fiber backbone network and access to network in over 60 cities and 125 Pops in India, strategic investments in South African converged services operator, Neotel, Sri Lanka and Nepal and, subject to fulfillment of conditions precedent, a 50% ownership in China Enterprise Communications (CEC) providing full country VPN coverage in China.

Servicing customers from its offices in over 80 cities in 40 countries, Tata Communications is the number one global international wholesale voice operator and number one provider of international long distance, enterprise data and Internet services in India, the Company was named "Best Wholesale Carrier" at the World Communications Awards in 2006, "Best Pan-Asian Wholesale Provider" at the 2006 and 2007 Capacity Magazine Global Wholesale Telecommunications Awards and was awarded "Best Progress in Emerging Markets" at the 2008 Mobile Communication Awards.

Tata Communications Limited along with its global subsidiaries, (Tata Communications), is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India and its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. (NYSE: TCL)