AT&T and Linde Sign Global Networking Agreement

MUNICH, Dec. 7, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* today announced a global networking agreement with Linde Group AG to provide a single and consistent wide area network for 1,700 Linde sites in more than 60 countries. The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company. Linde products and services can be found in nearly every industry, in more than 100 countries. The new network is designed to underpin the on-going business transformation to streamline and optimize Linde's operations worldwide and improve productivity while taking expense out of the business.

Under the terms of the seven year contract, AT&T has been appointed as Linde's primary worldwide network services provider and will support the company's operations with an integrated series of services including an advanced Virtual Private Network (VPN) to support critical business applications. The agreement will allow Linde businesses and their subsidiaries reliable access to a common network infrastructure from locations around the world while reducing costs.

Linde initiated a major global procurement program in 2009 to select a single global provider to assist them in transforming their regional networks to a single global network platform. The new single global network from AT&T will replace Linde's current environment of multiple regional and national networks previously provided by a variety of vendors.

Having a single global VPN provides Linde with numerous advantages for design, implementation and flexibility in operation. It also facilitates standardized customer premise equipment configurations, and routing across the network.

Elimination of separate inter-region networks further simplifies routing and improves performance while reducing costs. Going forward AT&T will have the responsibility of enabling, provisioning and integrating network resources for Linde Group businesses around the world, meaning there is a single point of contact for the customer and a single seamless management under a single sourcing policy, allowing Linde to focus on core business activity.

"It is a critical objective to streamline, centralize and simplify the IT infrastructure and application platforms, to streamline operational practices across the businesses and support the development of integrated solutions," said Ralf Stalinski, Head of Enterprise Services, The Linde Group. "It was apparent that the future network would become a key strategic milestone for Linde's globalization strategy and after a comprehensive selection process we were pleased to choose AT&T. They provided us with the most comprehensive, cost effective, scalable and future proofed solution."

Commenting on today's announcement Joachim Kathmann, AT&T Regional Vice President for Germany and Central Europe said, "Meeting the demanding requirements of a true global company like Linde demonstrates AT&T's ability to deliver the advanced, transformational services and applications demanded by the world's largest companies. Our relationship with Linde is based on a true understanding of their business requirements and being able to deploy worldwide the people, resources and technologies needed to bring the benefits of advanced communications to their business."

Reflecting the truly global nature of Linde's business, the agreement sees AT&T providing services in every major region of the world supporting Linde's 48,000 employees. There are more than 900 locations in EMEA, 430 in the Americas and over 370 in Asia Pacific. Major Linde locations include the company's headquarters in Munich, Germany, and regional HQ's in the UK (Guildford), North America (Murray Hills, NJ), Latin America (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Asia Pacific (Singapore) and China (Shanghai) as well as significant operations in India, the Middle East and Africa.

*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 mobile broadband 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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About The Linde Group

The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with almost 48,000 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2009 financial year it achieved sales of EUR 11.2 bn. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards sustainable earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development. For more information, see The Linde Group online at http://www.Linde.com

SOURCE AT&T Inc.