Leading Warehousing and Distribution Company to Integrate U.S. Network Services for Increased Communications and Cost-Efficiencies
APPLETON, Wis., April 3, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced a $1.1 million extension of its relationship with Warehouse Specialists, Inc., a leading logistics and packaging distributor for printing, chemical and food companies in the United States. With AT&T’s advanced network and data services, Warehouse Specialists, Inc. can more efficiently control inventory and distribution channels, providing additional benefits to their customers.
Under the terms of the contract, AT&T will roll out a number of networking services, including its Virtual Private Network (VPN) solution. This is designed to ride on AT&T’s MultiProtocol Label Switching backbone (MPLS). Warehouse Specialists’ new VPN will enhance all corporate infrastructure by allowing access to robust network services at anytime from anywhere.
Consolidating the Warehouse Specialist’s three existing and disparate sets of network services, AT&T’s VPN solution will support disaster recovery applications. AT&T’s network management and monitoring will help protect network traffic and transfers locally for Warehouse Specialist’s headquarters in Appleton, Wis. Additionally, AT&T will increase network reliability with its SONET-OC3 dual ring architecture and expand future capabilities to replicate data in multiple sites locally, and incorporating the cost efficiencies with these integrated network solutions.
“AT&T consistently has been a valued provider of network solutions that offer greater velocity and flexibility to our business,” said Paul Schwartz, director of Information Technology, Warehouse Specialists, Inc. “These new services will enable Warehouse Specialists at 26 locations around the country to access information quickly and ultimately provide better customer service.”
The terms of the contract will also provide Warehouse Specialists access to AT&T’s BusinessDirect(R) platform for individualized security regarding critical networking services. This platform will make accounting and financial management easier, letting Warehouse Specialist view, analyze, pay bills and electronically map circuit locations graphically.
About Warehouse Specialists, Inc.
Warehouse Specialists, Inc. (“WSI”) was started in 1966 by six forklift drivers from a local paper mill. Since that time, WSI has transformed itself into one of the largest and most respected warehousing and distribution firms in North America. WSI has grown to provide services to a diverse customer base. With annual movements of over 25,000 rail cars and 500,000 trucks system wide, WSI handles a wide variety of products including: paper/pulp, equipment, non-fat dry milk and canned goods, consumer goods, computer components and electronics, steel, wood products (plywood, etc.) and chemicals. Customers include the top companies in food, paper, chemicals, printing, building supply, steel, plastic and consumer goods.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world’s most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation’s leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/.
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Source: AT&T Inc.
CONTACT: Bryan Blaise of AT&T Inc., +1-312-932-2831, cell,
+1-312-259-6644, bblaise@attnews.us
Web site: http://www.att.com/
