Press Release: AT&T Solution Provider Program

FOR RELEASE TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2001
AT&T Establishes Elite Solution Provider Program; Launches Certification Program

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — AT&T today announced the creation of an elite tier in its alternate channel program, called the Solution Provider Program. These solution providers will be among the first of AT&T's 1,200 channel members to participate in the company's new data and Internet protocol (IP) certification program.

The Solution Provider Program targets organizations with a national footprint or vertical industry focus, and a broad set of expertise and value-added services, such as wide area networking professional services, systems design, applications and network integration, and life-cycle management. As part of AT&T's award-winning Alliance Channel Program, solution providers will market the company's full suite of data, IP, hosting, and virtual private network services.

Under this new program, solution providers will be able to:

Earn 20 to 30 percent more in commissions and bonuses,
Increase their revenue opportunity,
Receive dedicated AT&T pre- and post-sales support,
Participate in a comprehensive certification program, and
Use specially designed marketing tools, including a "Solution Provider" logo that designates them as members of this elite tier.

Alliance channel members use AT&T's reliable, scalable, high-performing networking infrastructure as the foundation for building complex applications, such as customer relationship management, supply chain management, enterprise resource planning, and e-commerce, for customers ranging from small businesses to large multinational enterprises.

They package their unique services and expertise with AT&T's data, IP, and hosting services, including:

Access services, such as AT&T Managed Internet Service and AT&T IP VPN Service;
Data networking solutions, such as AT&T Frame Relay Service and AT&T ATM Service;
AT&T Dedicated Hosting Services, from co-location to fully managed hosting and storage services; and
Security services, such as AT&T Managed Firewall Service.

"Customers today want a single source for consultation, network design, implementation, and life-cycle management, and we believe this elite tier of solution providers addresses this customer need," said Keith Olsen, vice president of global channel management, AT&T. "Our solution providers make a greater commitment and investment with us, and they will see a return on that investment almost immediately."

AT&T has initially offered the Solution Provider Program to a select number of existing authorized agents. Fourteen companies have signed up for the program.

Scott Q. Nesbitt, CEO of Data Processing Sciences Corp. in Cincinnati, Ohio, said, "This new program enables us to be a customer's single source for their networking needs by combining our strengths in network consulting, design, security, and life-cycle management with AT&T's first-class services. It's a powerful combination."

Dennis Fryzel, president of Atlanta-based ADCom, said, "The Solution Provider Program gives us the opportunity to be recognized as top-performing channel members by a leader in the networking services industry. This is a great way to differentiate ourselves in the marketplace."

Aric Faber, vice president of sales at Granite Solutions in Portage, Michigan, said, "Being recognized as an elite channel member will bring us more credibility with customers and with AT&T's own direct sales force. The certification program and dedicated sales support we'll get will enable us to respond to customers' business and technology challenges more effectively."

Available to all authorized agents in the Alliance Channel Program, AT&T data and IP certification is a prerequisite to qualify for the Solution Provider Program.

To receive certification, channel members must have at least two people who have successfully completed an extensive curriculum during a six-month period. The certification courses provide in-depth analysis and education on data, IP, enterprise networking, hosting, and e-commerce.

AT&T's Alliance Program also is leveraging its strategic relationships with companies such as Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and Sun Microsystems Corporation by integrating their education curriculum into the Alliance Program's training courses.

The certification program expands on the existing education curriculum offered through the World-Class Campus, the AT&T Alliance Channel's online university launched in October 2000.

For more information, reporters may contact:

Joyce Van Duzer — AT&T
908-658-5235 (office)
jvanduzer@att.com

Karen Way — AT&T
908-658-6039 (office)
kway@att.com

See the original AT&T press release.