AT&T Introduces Applications-Management Services, New Networking Professional Services Offers - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, Jan 31, 2000

AT&T Monday introduced its portfolio of applications- management capabilities by announcing a new suite of services to help companies manage and improve the performance of mission-critical enterprise applications, such as e-mail. In addition, AT&T is introducing new networking professional services in advanced IP and security consulting.

The new capabilities are being announced in conjunction with the ComNet 2000 tradeshow here this week.

AT&T manages corporate e-mail messaging applications from leading vendors such as Microsoft Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., and IBM's Lotus Development Corp. The new AT&T Networked Messaging Management Service provides architecture, design, deployment, operations and life-cycle management for these e-mail applications. Further, the service helps companies integrate multiple platforms into a single, more cost-effective and efficient e-mail platform, while assuring service-level performance for end users.

"These new services affirm our commitment to the applications operations and management market. As companies struggle with e-business integration and e-commerce projects, they increasingly will turn to service providers to manage their applications in the same way that their networks are managed today," said William Harvey, applications management services director at AT&T Solutions, the company's professional services unit. "Our ability to manage all networking and application components gives us the unique capability to guarantee end-to-end performance."

Advanced IP Professional Services and Networking Security Consulting Professional Services, the new AT&T Networking Professional Services announced Monday, address the ever-increasing complexity and convergence of networked applications on IP infrastructures and make available to clients the world-class networking security capability of the AT&T Labs Information Security Center.

"Maximizing the value of one's IP network and safeguarding corporate assets have become top concerns of companies who increasingly rely on the Internet and electronic commerce applications," said David Ferguson, AT&T Solutions client partner for Networking Professional Services. "Our new services bring unique expertise to businesses to address these concerns."

AT&T Networked Messaging Management Services "Many companies today, especially those involved in merger and acquisition activity, face the complexity of managing multiple e-mail systems and quickly migrating them into a high-performance, enterprise-wide e-mail and directory platform," said Harvey. "Our e-mail management services build on our focus on service level agreements for both availability and guaranteed message-delivery time. We find a high demand among our largest clients for these unique services."

The Networked Messaging Management Service provides companies with a full suite of managed and professional services, from design to operations and management, to help them evolve from legacy e-mail platforms to an enterprise solution built on a common e-mail architecture based on fully integrated leading hardware and software platforms. The service is based on Microsoft Corp.'s Windows NT 4.0 Operating System and Exchange 5.5 Server, HP OpenMail and Lotus Notes E-Mail.

AT&T Solutions provides the service to McDermott International Inc., a leading worldwide energy services company. "AT&T has improved the performance of our legacy messaging platform," said Douglas Taylor, general manager of McDermott Information Technology, McDermott International. "AT&T is currently engaged in implementing a standard global e-mail solution which we feel will further increase the robustness of our messaging infrastructure."

Under the Networked Messaging Management Service, AT&T: -- Assumes full responsibility for all of the customer's messaging platform components during transition;

-- Offers a single point of accountability and service level agreements for the messaging application and platform;

-- Provides the technical resources to support the design, architecture, server deployment, operations and management of the messaging application; -- Establishes and maintains connections to legacy e-mail solutions; -- Includes all hardware and software necessary for the messaging infrastructure, and -- Manages all service and performance using advanced remote monitoring and management tools from AT&T Solutions Global Client Support Centers.

The AT&T Networked Messaging Management Service also includes conversion of e-mail messages and directories. This service is geared toward medium and large enterprises with at least 7,000 users.

For smaller companies or enterprises that might not want the full breadth of options offered under the Networked Messaging Management Service, AT&T offers professional design and engineering services for messaging applications.

AT&T Networking Professional Services Networking Professional Services is a family of professional services designed to provide clients with networking solutions that support their business needs and optimize their investment in networking technology in today's rapidly changing environment. New services announced Monday include: