ComNet: AT&T launches VoIP portfolio

AT&T Tuesday said it is offering voice-over-IP retail services for business, allowing the combination of voice, fax and data traffic on a single integrated IP connection managed by AT&T.

AT&T announced the offering at ComNet, saying the services are available immediately with AT&T's managed Internet service and its managed router service. AT&T also launched OC-48 dedicated Internet access; a new provider-class hosting bundle; two new Internet data centers; and virtual communication services, a managed application for extending PBX features to "telecommuters" working remotely.

Voice-over-IP calling will next be added to AT&T managed data network services, designed to be a fully managed global service that bundles transport, access and router management. AT&T plans to add voice over IP to its entire portfolio of managed network services over the coming year, the company said in a press release.

Managed Internet service with voice-over-IP provides voice calling to nearly anywhere in the world, plus flat rate monthly pricing for calls within the U.S. Managed router service with voice-over-IP leverages AT&T's Frame Relay service to connect voice-over-IP-enabled locations in more than 40 countries. Unrestricted voice and fax calling will be available later in 2001. Pricing for managed router service with voice-over-IP includes a flat monthly monitoring cost and a monthly permanent virtual circuit cost.

Kathleen Earley, vice president of data and Internet services for AT&T, is expected to provide more details about the voice-over-IP services at a news conference at ComNet Tuesday afternoon.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.