* Option is designed to help customers to consolidate separate 'voice and data networks, reduce equipment and maintenance costs, and simplify migrating these complimentary capabilities to a common, secure infrastructure.'
AT&T announced last month that its new and existing VPN customers may now add VoIP service to the network solution delivered over AT&T’s global network cloud. This option to incorporate voice as a converged VPN application is designed to help customers to consolidate separate “voice and data networks, reduce equipment and maintenance costs, and simplify migrating these complimentary capabilities to a common, secure infrastructure,” according to AT&T.
The converged approach using a common infrastructure will also help AT&T customers take advantage of additional applications such as unified communications as AT&T makes them available. AT&T’s VPN portfolio also offers businesses the option to use the AT&T VPN to connect branch offices, headquarters, remote users, and third parties such as suppliers and customers.
Ma Bell’s 25-year odyssey
The VPN alternative is designed to complement other VoIP options in the AT&T portfolio. AT&T IP Flexible Reach is a SIP Trunking service with interoperability certified both for IP-PBX systems and for Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2. AT&T Voice DNA, another product in the VoIP portfolio, is a fully hosted network-based service. AT&T also offers offers a global hosted and managed UC solution based upon Microsoft’s Office Communications Server 2007 R2.
AT&T’s VoIP calling plans offer options for unlimited local and “on-net” long-distance calling, “off-net” long distance international calling, and standard VoIP-based calling features. Customer network management is provided with the AT&T BusinessDirect, a Web-based suite of tools that include network monitoring and performance optimization, customer service, and bill management.
Commenting in a statement on the portfolio addition, Shawn Conroy, vice president, AT&T Business Solutions, said: “adding voice to the network cloud gives customers the ability to determine their optimal level of security, architecture, cost and performance ” — key differentiators for AT&T.”
