AT&T Telepresence Solution Adds More Countries to Its Global Footprint

DALLAS, May 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T* is bringing the unique 'in-person' experience of telepresence to more companies in more locations by expanding its AT&T Telepresence Solution(SM) global footprint availability to customer sites in a total of 75 countries and territories. This expansion includes the addition of twelve new countries where it offers its fully managed AT&T Telepresence Solution bundle and 37 additional countries where AT&T Telepresence Solution includes proactive remote monitoring of customer-owned videoconferencing equipment and access to the AT&T Business Exchange.  

These additions more than double the countries from where customers can reach AT&T Telepresence Solution along with AT&T's plans to build out AT&T Business Exchange Nodes in Amsterdam and Hong Kong, demonstrate AT&T's global leadership and commitment to advanced videoconferencing.

The twelve additional countries where AT&T Telepresence Solution is now available as a complete managed service are: Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Norway, Portugal, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Turkey, and Venezuela. The fully managed bundle includes AT&T customer premises equipment, installation, full monitoring and management of the application, remote help desk service, on-site equipment maintenance, and functionality over an AT&T Virtual Private Network or Enhanced Virtual Private Network transport.  

"The expansion of the AT&T Telepresence Solution further establishes AT&T as one of the leaders in managed intercompany telepresence solutions in terms of footprint, scale, subscribers and value," said Joe Lueckenhoff, senior vice president, AT&T Business Solutions. "With a broader global telepresence footprint, AT&T can enable customers to collaborate across additional locations and end points, which translates into greater value for customers."

Subscribers in all locations will be able to access the AT&T Business Exchange, AT&T's unique network-based capability for intercompany collaboration. The AT&T Business Exchange serves as one of the largest and fastest growing telepresence communities. Globally, more than 100 companies and organizations can access the AT&T Business Exchange, and have the ability to connect with one another via more than 1,100 telepresence endpoints worldwide.

Additionally, AT&T Telepresence Solution customer Marriott International Inc. today announced the availability of its GoThere Virtual Meetings by Marriott public telepresence room at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott. This joins the previously announced rooms at the New York Marriott East Side Hotel, the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel, the JW Marriott San Francisco Union Square, and the Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel..

The global telepresence market will continue see significant growth well into the near future, according to the research firm IDC, perhaps by as much as 75 percent during 2010. IDC predicts global telepresence revenues may reach $1 billion during this year as well.(1)

"The videoconferencing and telepresence market is in the midst of a transition – evolving from an option of last resort to an alternative that is often preferred over traveling," said Rena Bhattacharyya, research manager at IDC. "The cultural shift towards the perception of video as an effective replacement for in person meetings will accelerate swiftly through the next decade. Service providers like AT&T can increase adoption of telepresence by increasing the number of capable endpoints, articulating a strong value proposition for customers, and by clearly communicating best practices."

The fully managed AT&T Telepresence Solution bundle is a turn-key, scalable service offering an immersive "face to face" meeting experience. The solution provides a unique, business-to-business, multipoint, "meet me" bridging feature that uses security PIN codes to simplify intercompany calling.  It also allows companies to collaborate with their employees, customers, suppliers and partners worldwide in a highly-reliable, cost-effective way and transform their business processes.

More information on AT&T Telepresence Solution is available at www.att.com/telepresence.

(1) IDC, Worldwide Enterprise Videoconferencing and Telepresence 2010-2014 Forecast, Document 221356, March 2010

*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.

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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(SM) and AT&T | DIRECTV(SM) 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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