Phoenix International Ltd. Inc. has signed four new clients for its client/server technology.
The Orlando-based company's banking system, geared toward smaller financial institutions, is already being used by 27 banks worldwide.
Considering Phoenix's target market-banks with assets of $100 million to $1 billion-"there's a big opportunity ahead of them," said Herbert R. Maher, senior vice president of technology research at Advest Inc., the brokerage division of Hartford, Conn.-based Advest Bank.
Part of Phoenix's recent success can be attributed to its alliance strategy. Its goal has been to establish relationships with companies in key markets, said Raju Shivdasani, president of Phoenix's international division.
Through Unisys Corp., Phoenix now has its first Chilean bank client. Santiago-based Banco Concepcion operates 70 branches. Unisys became the exclusive distributor for the Phoenix system in Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean in early 1996.
Thanks to Computer System Associates, African International Bank in Lagos, Nigeria, will also use the Phoenix Banking System. Last year, Phoenix formed an alliance with the Nigeria-based technology company for distribution of its system in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Besides the two partner-related contracts, the company has also recently scored two wins on its own, in the United States and South Africa.
Advest Bank will use Phoenix's architecture for its entire information management system. Johannesburg-based Rand Merchant Bank will use Phoenix's technology to create a virtual bank, Mr. Shivdasani said.
Client/server technology is more readily accepted overseas, whereas "it is just gathering momentum" in the United States, he said.
