AT&T Adds IP Voice Services to Industry-Leading Virtual Private Network Services

DALLAS, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T* announced today that new and existing virtual private network (VPN) customers may add VoIP service to the network solution delivered over AT&T's global network cloud.

This converged solution will enable customers to consolidate their separate voice and data networks, reduce equipment and maintenance costs, and simplify migrating these complimentary capabilities to a common, secure infrastructure. By migrating to a common infrastructure, customers are able to take advantage of additional applications as AT&T makes them available, such as unified communications capabilities.

The AT&T VoIP portfolio is also certified for interoperability with leading industry providers of IP-PBX systems, such as SIP Trunking services qualified for Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2, providing support for businesses planning to incorporate a comprehensive unified communications solution in the future.  

AT&T VoIP portfolio is also certified for interoperability with leading industry providers of IP-PBX systems, including Microsoft, providing support for businesses planning to incorporate a comprehensive unified communications solution in the future.  

The company's portfolio of VoIP services includes AT&T IP Flexible Reach, a SIP trunking service, which allows businesses to continue to use the capabilities of their existing IP-PBXs, optimizing their equipment investment.  AT&T Voice DNA®, another product in the VoIP portfolio, is a fully hosted network-based service with advanced features, applications and management tools for customers.  

VoIP calling plans include unlimited local and "on-net" long-distance calling, as well as "off-net" long distance international calling, and provide the local calling features customers have come to expect such as: caller ID, voice mail, conferencing, local number portability and E911. Customers are able to monitor and manage their network through AT&T BusinessDirect®, an award-winning Web-based suite of secure, interactive tools which allows customers to perform a multitude of functions from network monitoring and performance optimization, to customer service and bill management.

"Voice service is as mission-critical for businesses today as it's ever been, and customers expect their VoIP service to perform as well as their traditional telephone service," said Shawn Conroy, vice president, AT&T Business Solutions.  Adding voice to the network cloud gives customers the ability to determine their optimal level of security, architecture, cost and performance objectives -- key differentiators for AT&T," he said.

Business customers want a single network and platform to deliver voice, data, video and applications to their end-users. VPNs are quickly becoming the strategic platform to deliver on the goal of a networked enterprise -- anytime, anywhere, reliable, and highly secure networking.  With AT&T's VPN portfolio, businesses can use a single infrastructure (their VPN network) to connect branch offices, headquarters, remote users, and third parties such as suppliers and customers.

Remote workers and road warriors have the same functionality as their co-workers in the company's headquarters or branch-based co-workers through the VPN network. They have seamless access to business functions, applications and intelligence, including customer service to order processing, procurement, and now, voice services, over a single network, including the same voice mail and the corporate dialing plans,

AT&T customers can access their VPN using virtually any access technology, such as mobile, Wi-Fi, DSL, dial-up and Ethernet.

AT&T's innovative IP network is the lynchpin to delivering a comprehensive set of solutions necessary for enterprises to operate in today's global environment.   AT&T delivers unmatched scale, reach and reliability over a converged, global MPLS network. Through both science and discipline, AT&T uses data and analytics from call handling, routing, congestion and performance to detect and manage services proactively for optimized availability.  This intelligence is coupled with specific routing capabilities that are layered on top of basic IP routing to provide quality of service and improved performance for customers.

Today, AT&T offers Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS)-based services to 163 countries over 3,800 service nodes, and operates 38 Internet data centers around the world.  These assets enable AT&T to provide customers with globally-consistent access to capacity and features – when and where they need it most.

For more information visit http://www.att.com .

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine. 

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.