For more information, contact:
Joyce Van Duzer
908-234-6846 (w)
jvanduzer@att.com
Bob Nersesian
908-234-4548 (w)
908-410-6026 (c)
nersesian@att.com
BEDMINSTER, N.J., Dec. 8, 2005 — Just weeks since the formation of the new AT&T Inc., the company has established the leadership of its business sales team worldwide and expanded its suite of networking services, signaling the formal transition and integration of enterprise customers.
The response from existing and new customers to the new AT&T Inc. has been very positive. In its first two weeks, AT&T Inc. has won more than 3,900 deals among large business customers worldwide, resulting in approximately $300 million in annualized revenue.
“We made a smooth transition and integration for our business customers Job One for the new AT&T,” said Chris Rooney, senior vice president—Business sales, “and the global marketplace has responded enthusiastically.”
As soon as the acquisition closed, the new AT&T launched a proactive customer communications program, which included personal calls to business customers from the new AT&T executive team, to reaffirm the company’s commitment to meet the needs of businesses worldwide.
“Without missing a beat, the ‘new AT&T’ launched a new logo, a new web site, and primed the market with boatloads of information about the size, prowess and momentum of the new company,” said Mark Winther, group vice president-telecommunications, IDC, a leading industry analyst firm. “With these latest moves in the enterprise space, AT&T looks set to hit the ground running.”1
The company already has announced the senior sales leadership team across business markets globally, and expects sales account teams in the enterprise market will be fully integrated and in place the first week of January 2006.
“We have transition teams in place, so customers around the world continue to receive the high level of service they expect. These teams are prepared to immediately address any issues,” Rooney said. “In addition, we’ve established a Business Sales Command Center where account teams can go for information.”
The company also will host a series of Executive Summits worldwide in 2006, giving AT&T customers — from mid-size to multinational corporations — an opportunity to meet and speak directly with the new AT&T management team. In the meantime, AT&T will continue to hold customer advisory council meetings, user groups and other forums to solicit regular customer feedback.
“We applaud the new senior executive leadership team at AT&T for its commitment to communication and the highest quality of service during this transition period,” said Rick Perrotta, Whirlpool Corporation, Director Global Networking, Engineering and Services. “We’re excited about the new company’s enhanced ability to leverage its strength, skills and value to continue to provide cutting-edge global networking solutions.”
Finally, the company has quickly expanded the suite of IP, data and voice networking services now available to business customers. Enhancements to the portfolio of business services include:
• Unified messaging to complement voice over IP services.
• Metropolitan Area Network solutions in the former SBC’s 13-state territory.
• Two additional Internet Data Centers in Texas and California.
The expansion of the portfolio combines the former SBC’s dense, fiber-powered local networks with AT&T Corp.’s advanced, powerful IP backbone network, giving customers a single source for their networking solutions—local, national, global and wireless. In addition, the portfolio expansion will help businesses more rapidly transition from legacy to next-generation technologies, including IP.
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1 Source: IDC, The New AT&T Launches with LightSpeed, Document #34468, November 2005
About the New AT&T
AT&T Inc. is one of the world’s largest telecommunications holding companies and is the largest in the United States. Operating globally under the AT&T brand, AT&T companies are recognized as the leading worldwide providers of IP-based communications services to business and as leading U.S. providers of high-speed DSL Internet, local and long-distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. AT&T Inc. holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which is the No. 1 U.S. wireless services provider with more than 52 million wireless customers. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and AT&T products and services is available at www.TheNewATT.com .
