The contract calls for AT&T to convert 3Com`s backbone network to ATM from point-to-point service to realise increased bandwidth and to allow for the convergence of voice, data and video transport on a single network.
Within the United States, AT&T will provide its OneNet Inbound and Outbound service, frame relay and ATM services. ATM will connect ten 3Com campuses and locations in the United States, United Kingdom and Asia. ATM also will converge voice, data and video traffic between Santa Clara, CA, Boston and Chicago, with future plans to extend the converged traffic to other 3Com locations worldwide. 3Com also will use AT&T`s frame relay to ATM interworking service for various applications.
Internationally, AT&T will utilize its Worldsource family of services, including Virtual Network Voice, private line and frame relay. AT&T`s international ATM service will connect 3Com`s major international locations to its hub offices in the United States. 3Com will be AT&T`s first customer to use ATM service to transmit voice, video and data to Singapore.
"We are setting a new standard for efficiency and overall flexibility by converging the majority of our voice, video and data traffic on one seamless network," said Thomas L. Thomas, Senior Vice President, Global Information Systems and Chief Information Officer for 3Com. "We will benefit from increased cost savings and the ability to provide numerous video applications to our sites around the globe."
With the converged voice, video and data network, 3Com expects to realise a multimillion cost savings over the term of the three-year contract and dramatically improve both customer satisfaction and employee productivity.
Converged network applications now in use at 3Com include the call centre for customer service and support, company-wide CEO Forums conducted by 3Com Chairman and CEO Eric Benhamou and seven-digit dialing across the ATM network.
Joe Lueckenhoff, product and marketing vice president of data networking for AT&T, said, "Our agreement with 3Com underscores AT&T`s leadership role and our ability to provide state-of-the-art convergent, high-bandwidth networks adaptable to the current and emerging application needs of the corporation. 3Com is now positioned to provide its customers with more robust and streamlined voice services in addition to the highest quality frame relay and ATM services available in the industry."
Business customers interested in more information about AT&T`s converged voice, video and data networks can contact their AT&T account teams.
Editors note
About 3Com Corporation
With more than 200 million customers worldwide, 3Com Corporation connects more people to information in more ways than any other networking company. 3Com delivers innovative information access products and network system solutions to large, medium and small enterprises; carriers and network service providers; PC OEMs; and consumers. 3Com `More connected.` For further information, visit 3Com`s World Wide Web site at www.3com.com or the press site at www.3com.com/pressbox.
About AT&T
AT&T Corp. is the world`s premier communications company and a leading Internet service provider. AT&T serves more than 90 million customers, including consumers, businesses and government. The company has annual revenues of more than $52 billion and 130,000 employees. It runs the world`s largest, most sophisticated communications network and is the leading provider of long-distance, data transport and wireless services. AT&T operates in more than 200 countries and territories around the world.
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