The path to convergence: AT&T adds wireless to plans for business

AT&T Inc. is taking another step along the path of convergence as it rolls out integrated business service plans that include wireless along with the rest of its suite of services.
The company said that it is now offering its “full range of wireline and wireless services and devices” via a unified sales force for midsized and large businesses, as well as a quadruple-play option for small businesses within its 22-state wireline service region. Besides the integrated offers, AT&T said that it now can offer customers its entire wireless portfolio.
“Until now, only certain plans or devices were available to AT&T business customers as part of an integrated offer,” the company noted. It went on to add that all services, plans and devices could be sold on a stand-alone basis or could be integrated within an existing AT&T customer contract.
AT&T also said that it has added cellular data access as a connectivity option for its virtual private network business customers, so that remote or mobile workers could use Wi-Fi or cellular data service to access a company VPN, business applications and corporate information.
AT&T said that since the end of 2006, revenue from its enterprise wireless business customers is growing by double-digits compared with the previous six quarters.
“This revenue growth is driven by strong demand from companies that are increasing their spend for wireless and mobility solutions,” the company said.