AT&T commits $1B for cloud-based enterprise services in 2011

AT&T Inc. (T) plans to spend $1 billion this year to deploy network-based cloud and mobility solutions for large and small business across a series of vertical markets. AT&T is targeting companies, government agencies and institutions in verticals such as manufacturing, retail, hospitality, healthcare and automotive.
The company said it is focusing its investment in enterprise mobility applications and software as a service (SaaS) enhancements that will lead to the development of new platforms, systems and capabilities to automate, enhance and simplify business customers’ experience.
“We continue to invest significantly in cloud-based, mobility and network sourcing solutions because customers are increasingly recognizing that transformative services like these increase productivity, improve operational effectiveness and lower costs,” John Stankey, president and CEO of AT&T Business Solutions, said in a prepared statement.
AT&T’s business solutions, including ethernet, virtual private networks, hosting, IP conferencing and applications services, grew 18.8% in Q1 2011 from the year ago period, representing the division’s strongest period of growth in more than two years.
AT&T counts more than 12 million emerging devices on its network today and added 1.6 million emerging devices in Q1 2011. These devices include connected devices and embedded computing devices such as tablets, netbooks and laptops. The company has business relationships with all of the Fortune 1000 companies, more than half of the FTSE index, more than 85% of the CAC 40 index in France, more than 80% of the DAX companies in Germany and more than 60% of the Nikkei 225 companies in Japan.