IBM (NYSE: IBM)'s key global services outsourcing and consulting unit, which accounts for more than half the company's total revenue, posted strong growth in the second quarter as sales increased 16% year over year to $15.2 billion, IBM reported Thursday. IBM said its Global Technology Services outsourcing group saw sales increase 15% to $10.1 billion, while sales at its Global Business Services consulting group rose 18% to $5.1 billion.
The value of services contracts signed in the quarter totaled $14.7 billion, up 12% from the previous year, IBM said. The company's backlog of services contracts, as of the end of the second quarter, is worth about $117 billion, $1 billion more than at the same time a year ago.
