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AT&T Launches Cloud-Based Unified Communications Features | January 27, 2012 | IP Telephony and UC Services | Analyst: Cindy Whelan Event Summary January 24, 2012 -- AT&T launched UC Services, a unified communications solution that enables employees to communicate and collaborate in real-time using a variety of devices. UC Services comprises two components: AT&T UC Central is a software client that integrates collaboration tools including IM/chat, e-mail, IP telephony, Web/audio/video conferencing, unified messaging, and mobility; AT&T UC Voice is a network-hosted IP telephony option that can be purchased as a standalone service or integrated with AT&T UC Central. | Read Press Release | Quick Take Analytical Summary • Current Perspective: Positive on AT&T’s launch of UC Services, because the move extends the carrier’s voice services into a unified communications and collaboration (UCC) ecosystem that integrates voice with communications tools, including instant messaging/chat, conferencing, messaging, and video, delivered over PCs and wireless devices. The AT&T UC Central software client integrates collaboration and communications onto a single interface for PCs and wireless devices. AT&T UC Voice delivers network-based IP telephony using Cisco's Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS), and it can be purchased as a standalone service or with UC Central for a full UCC experience. AT&T has built the solution to be flexible, and it will provide support for third-party developers that want to embed AT&T features into their own business products or processes. • Vendor Importance: High to AT&T, because the carrier is providing its enterprise customers with a migration path to next-generation UCC solutions. Enterprises have been monitoring UCC service development, and they are now implementing deployment strategies to bring UCC services into their communications infrastructure. Competitors such as Verizon and Orange Business Services have released UCC offers to market that include network-based UC-as-a-Service (UCaaS) options, targeting enterprise customers with solutions that promise increased productivity, cost savings, and phased migration from legacy infrastructure. AT&T needed to launch its own UCC/UCaaS offer and articulate its broader UCC strategy and value proposition to current and prospective customers. • Market Impact: Moderate on the market for UCC solutions, because it is still early days for UCC deployment and offers are evolving. AT&T’s current service set is competitive relative to UCC offers from major competitors, and it lets enterprise customers begin their UCC planning and implementation. There are a number of carriers that have launched or plan to launch UCaaS offers based on the Cisco HCS platform; most of these providers are touting a similar story around migration paths and support for hybrid environments, so AT&T is right to get its new service and message into the market, highlighting differentiators in what may become a crowded field. CLIENTS ONLY Current Analysis Perspective Competitive Strengths and Weaknesses Response & Recommendations Buyer Actions Analytical Perspective | Client access - Full report in IP Telephony and UC Services Share this Current Analysis Competitive Intelligence Highlight: Top Top

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Connect and Collaborate from the Cloud: AT&T Launches New Cloud-Based Unified Communications Services

Reduce Complexity and Simplify Access with New AT&T Unified Communications Functionality
Dallas, Texas, January 24, 2012
Maximizing its expertise in cloud computing, mobility, and voice and IP networking services, AT&T* is bringing the benefits of Unified Communications to businesses of all sizes as a simple, reliable, carrier-grade service. AT&T Unified Communications Services helps organizations control costs and eliminate unpredictable expenditures.

AT&T UC Services gives customers the ability to unify their communications – conveniently delivered over the highly-secure and reliable AT&T network. As with AT&T’s other cloud solutions, which are embedded directly into the AT&T managed network, AT&T UC Services is accessible from almost any device, enabling employees to collaborate and communicate in real-time regardless of location. It is designed to meet the needs of today’s mobile workers by:
• Providing the ability to work virtually anytime, anywhere, on virtually any device – including seamlessly transferring sessions between PC and compatible mobile devices
• Facilitating the capability to transition from one communication method to another - for example, seamlessly switching from an IM chat to a phone call to a web or video conference

Improving reachability by displaying rich presence indicators of an individual’s status and allowing a single number to call multiple devices, AT&T UC Services is comprised of two major components: AT&T Unified Communications CentralSM (UC Central) and AT&T Unified Communications Voice (UC Voice):
• AT&T UC Central integrates multiple communications and collaboration tools such as IM/chat, email, VoIP calling, web/audio and video conferencing, voicemail, unified messaging and mobility with presence, behind a single user interface designed for both PC and mobile usage.
• AT&T UC Voice provides high quality IP Telephony (IPT) from the AT&T cloud and can be used both as a stand-alone service or integrated with AT&T UC Central. There is no need to buy new PBXs and software licenses, or renew maintenance contracts. AT&T UC Voice leverages the Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) platform as the core of this service.

“With AT&T Unified Communications Services individuals have full access to all of their communications tools at the tips of their fingers,” said Shawn Conroy, Vice President of Voice, Collaboration and Unified Communications Services, AT&T Business Solutions. “Not only can this service leverage an organization’s existing investments to improve business collaboration, it also provides an easy transition from where a customer is today to where they want to be tomorrow without incurring significant capital expenses. AT&T is breaking new ground by providing customers with simple, affordable access to carrier-grade UC functionality.”

AT&T will host a Virtual Launch event January 26, 2012 to showcase the capabilities of this new Unified Communications as a service solution. For more information and to register please click the link above. *AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.