BEDMINSTER, N.J., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T Inc. today announced the launch of a professional services package designed to help meet the network, communications, security and planning needs of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and organizations.

Known as "AT&T Consulting Essentials," the package offers a suite of professional services typically available only to global enterprise or federal government customers but priced to deliver affordable expertise to SMBs as well as state and local governments and education and healthcare organizations.

AT&T Consulting Essentials is designed to help SMBs plan, install, and deploy new communications and IT networks, as well as to upgrade existing networks. The service also focuses on providing assessment, gap analysis and practical solutions to help SMBs implement industry best practices for information security. In addition, AT&T can recommend solutions that will assist these customers with their respective regulatory compliance efforts for information security.

"This offering provides our small and midsize business customers with access to experienced technology, networking and communications professionals who can help design customized solutions to fit their specific needs," said William Archer, senior vice president-Business Marketing. "Consulting Essentials is an example of how AT&T is delivering new, compelling services that generate tangible benefits for our smaller business customers."

The new offering extends AT&T consulting capabilities to small and midsize organizations, providing AT&T with a portfolio of consulting solutions that crosses the continuum of business customers from small businesses and local municipalities to international corporations and national governments.

Specifically, AT&T Consulting Essentials features modular and custom offerings in the following areas:

-- Network and Information Security. Identify and assess vulnerabilities most likely to compromise assets, and develop plans to protect those assets; also, determine conformity to industry best practices and customer-specific regulatory requirements in advance of third-party compliance certification. -- Business Continuity. Identify and prioritize risks, and determine actions to preserve business operations during a man-made or natural event. -- Network Optimization. Eliminate bottlenecks, improve bandwidth utilization, and implement efficient management and maintenance practices. -- Telecom Strategy. Determine best voice-architecture strategy, considering current and future needs as well as evolving technology. -- IPT Readiness. Assess whether networks can cost-effectively support digital transmission of voice, data and video over an IP platform. -- Client Tutorials. Conduct on-site or Web-based whiteboard sessions.

According to a 2005 study conducted by SRBI* and commissioned by AT&T, nearly one-third of SMBs use consultants, with more than half indicating that they are likely to look to a telecommunications company for consulting services.

In addition, market research firm IDC estimated the U.S. IT consulting markets to be $10.3 billion last year, projecting that it will grow to $12.3 billion in 2009(1). Over the same period, IDC projected that consulting related to security services will nearly double from $2.2 billion to $4.3 billion, an 18 percent growth rate. The firm also indicated that other key growth areas for consulting include network optimization and convergence services(2).

"As more small and medium businesses realize that their IT needs are outstripping their in-house expertise, they're turning to trusted technology providers, like AT&T, for technical advice and direction," said Curtis Price, program director of IDC. "In short, taking advantage of affordable, modular consulting packages is an emerging trend, especially as it relates to security services, where IDC sees tremendous growth potential for the next several years."

"More and more of our small and midsized customers are seeking technical advice on wireless/wireline convergence solutions, network security and business continuity and how best to take advantage of the capabilities of AT&T's global IP-based networks," Archer said. "We think that there will be substantial interest in this type of offering, especially among education, healthcare, and state and local government customers."

For more information or to order Consulting Essentials, businesses should contact their AT&T representative or go to http://www.att.com/consulting_essentials .

* SRBI is a full-service global strategy and research organization specializing in public policy and opinion surveys, banking and finance, telecommunications, media, energy, transportation, insurance and health care. (1) IDC, Worldwide IT Consulting 2006-2010 Forecast, #35049, March 2006. (2) IDC, U.S. Information Security Consulting and Implementation Services 2005 - 2009 Forecast, #33583, July 2005.

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About AT&T

AT&T Inc. is one of the world's largest telecommunications holding companies and is the largest in the United States. Operating globally under the AT&T brand, AT&T companies are recognized as the leading worldwide providers of IP-based communications services to business and as leading U.S. providers of high speed DSL Internet, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. AT&T Inc. holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which is the No. 1 U.S. wireless services provider with 57.3 million wireless customers. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and AT&T products and services is available at http://www.att.com/ .

Subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. provide products and services under the AT&T brand.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update or revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.

CONTACT: Brian Westrich of AT&T, +1-314-982-9109, bwestric@attnews.us

Web site: http://www.att.com/
http://www.att.com/consulting_essentials