AT&T launches content distribution service

AT&T is offering a content distribution service that lets companies stream video and other multimedia across their networks from behind their own firewalls.

The service acts something like an in-house content delivery network, in which companies store content on their own networks and have it delivered from behind their own firewalls using AT&T's system. AT&T says the service, known as the Private Content Distribution Service (PCDS), was created in response to enterprise demand for "rich and graphics-intensive multimedia content" such as live video streaming. In particular, AT&T says companies are looking to use live video for applications such as online job trainings and employee Webcasts. The chief benefit of the service is that it gives companies more ability to monitor and manage high-bandwidth applications without overly taxing their networks, according to AT&T.

The service includes equipment installation, monitoring, trouble ticket, patching and day-to-day operational support provided by AT&T. It also integrates with other AT&T IP data services such as VPNs and hosting services, and it can be enhanced to include security services such as encryption. Users who are on the company's network but who do not work directly on company premises will be able to securely access content.

AT&T has been adding several new security services over the past two years, including a managed encryption service that it launched last year, a managed firewall service and a managed service aimed at heightening protection for IP VPNs. The company also offers a "Business in a Box" service that acts as a converged voice and data service for small businesses, and which provides either hosted or premises-based options.