AT&T Extends Value of Its Telepresence Solution to Companies' Existing Videoconferencing Systems
Company also announces 2009 plans to double number of Telepresence rooms worldwide to 50 within AT&T
Dallas, Texas, San Jose, California, March 30, 2009
AT&T* today announced a new feature that will allow companies to connect their existing videoconferencing systems to the industry-leading AT&T Telepresence Solution, a fully-managed solution enabled by Cisco TelePresence™. AT&T also announced plans to double the number of Cisco TelePresence rooms deployed at AT&T locations throughout the United States and globally, and said that new rooms in its London and Hong Kong offices are already up and running.
New Telepresence Interoperability Feature: Cost Effective and Innovative
By the end of 2Q 2009, companies will be able to connect their existing H.323 compatible legacy videoconferencing systems with the AT&T Telepresence Solution, offering a cost-effective solution to leverage historically under-utilized systems. With this new feature for intra-company conferencing, existing SD (standard definition) or Internet Protocol-based videoconferencing systems will participate as an end-point when a Cisco TelePresence session begins. Companies that have made prior investments in video-conferencing technology will now be able to use their technology with the AT&T Telepresence Solution to extend the life of their legacy system, while taking advantage of the high quality "in-room" experience that Cisco TelePresence offers.
"This is another example of the way in which AT&T is working with companies to extend the value of their existing investments, while introducing them to leading-edge technology like the AT&T Telepresence Solution," said Ronald E. Spears, president and CEO of AT&T Business Solutions. "In these challenging times, we're doing all that we can to help companies improve productivity and collaboration in the most cost-effective way."
Nearly 30 companies have access to AT&T's exclusive AT&T Business Exchange and are able to connect with one another via hundreds of TelePresence sites worldwide.
AT&T Telepresence Solution: Internal Expansion Plans
AT&T has been using its own managed Telepresence solution for over a year to communicate internally as well as with business partners and customers that are also on the AT&T Business Exchange. AT&T currently has more than 25 sites deployed in the U.S. and globally including recently added rooms in London and Hong Kong, with plans to double the number of Telepresence rooms by the second half of this year. New domestic and international locations where rooms will be deployed include Atlanta, Houston, New York City, Pasadena, CA, Middletown, NJ and Tokyo.
"Since launching the AT&T Telepresence Solution within our own operations, AT&T has experienced a significant improvement in collaboration across our business units and increased employee productivity, as well as realizing a savings of nearly 10 percent in travel costs," added Spears. AT&T also estimates that its use of Cisco TelePresence will reduce CO2e emissions by approximately 31,000 tons over the next five years — an amount that is roughly equal to the emissions generated by 5,732 passenger vehicles annually.
"Since we joined forces with AT&T last year, our companies have seen strong demand from the international business community for the fully managed intercompany service for Cisco TelePresence," said Marthin De Beer, senior vice president and general manager, Emerging Technologies Group, Cisco. "In addition, both AT&T and Cisco are actively using the intercompany Cisco TelePresence Exchange, which in turn is enabling real-time collaboration, delivering travel-cost savings and other efficiencies in key verticals."
The AT&T Telepresence Solution creates unique, "in-person" experiences with the simplicity of making a phone call as well as provides a "meet me" feature with a secure PIN code that simplifies intercompany calling. This is a key component and an industry-first feature that distinguishes the AT&T solution from any other video communications offer available today. AT&T Telepresence Solution also offers unique multipoint functionality and reliable intercompany capabilities, which allow multiple locations within and between companies to connect to each other.
The AT&T Telepresence Solution provides AT&T-owned or customer owned Cisco TelePresence equipment, installation, full monitoring and management of the application, remote help desk service and on-site equipment maintenance and repair and works over AT&T Virtual Private Network transport. Three-screen and one-screen site options are available, based on the Cisco TelePresence System 3200, Cisco TelePresence System 3000, Cisco TelePresence System 1300, Cisco TelePresence System 1000 and Cisco TelePresence System 500 endpoints.
For more information or to request a demonstration of AT&T Telepresence Solution, visit www.att.com/telepresence.
*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. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services, the nation's fastest 3G network and the best wireless coverage worldwide, and the nation's leading high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of their three-screen integration strategy, AT&T operating companies are expanding their TV entertainment offerings. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE® magazine's list of the World's Most Admired Companies. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.
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