AT&T Automotive Network Services Offers Industry-Leading Benefits
24 February 1999
AT&T Automotive Network Services Offers Industry-Leading Benefits for ANX Access
BRIDGEWATER, N.J.--Feb. 23, 1999--AT&T today introduced AT&T Automotive Network Services, offering qualified automotive businesses high-quality dedicated access to the Automotive Network eXchange(R) (ANX(R)), the secure Internet Protocol-based network for conducting mission-critical electronic commerce among suppliers, manufacturers and distributors in the automotive industry.
AT&T's ANX certification was announced today by the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) and the ANX Overseer, Bellcore, which is responsible for ensuring that ANX requirements are met and maintained.
"The Internet is redefining the rules of supply chain management, offering companies enormous improvements in operational productivity," said Kathleen B. Earley, vice president, AT&T Internet Services. AT&T and the ANX service are taking it to the next level, enabling real-time e-commerce and providing the levels of security and performance necessary for business transactions among automotive trading partners across the Internet.
"AT&T Automotive Network Services will supply the reliability, flexibility and cost-efficiencies of IP networking to companies of all sizes throughout the automotive industry," Earley said.
The benefits of AT&T Automotive Network Services include:
| -- | ANX connectivity via AT&T's managed global IP backbone, for a scalable solution that continually incorporates state-of-the-art technology. |
| -- | AT&T can support all the voice and data communications needs of automotive trading partners, so there is no need to have a separate vendor for ANX connectivity. |
| -- | value-added services -- including project management, network assessment, design and implementation and IPSec/security solutions - are available through members of the AT&T Alliance Program. |
| -- | management reports to show current utilization and enable planning for growth. |
| -- | Dial backup connectivity. |
| -- | 24 x 7 customer care. |
| -- | competitive pricing |
"We are pleased that AT&T has joined Ameritech, Bell Canada and EDS in becoming an ANX Certified Service Provider. This helps to drive competition, improve services and offer ANX trading partners more choice," said Raymond J. Mitzel, AIAG Executive Director. "Through ANX CSPs like AT&T, the ANX service is providing the auto industry with a leading-edge vehicle for safe and efficient business communication over a secure virtual private IP network."
The capabilities that the ANX service and AT&T Automotive Network Services are bringing to business are expected to change every aspect of the automotive industry, from the early design and assembly phase to the delivery and servicing of vehicles. Among other benefits, automotive companies will be able to share designs more easily, and facilitate and standardize the critical just-in-time inventory methods that are key to building automobiles cost effectively.
To become certified as an ANX service provider, AT&T completed rigorous, mandatory testing of more than 100 service-quality metrics set by the ANX Overseer and the AIAG, a not-for-profit trade association with 1,500 member companies.
About AT&T
AT&T Corp. is the world's premier communications company and a leading Internet service provider. AT&T serves more than 80 million customers, including consumers, businesses and government. The company has annual revenues of more than $52 billion and 109,000 employees. It runs the world's largest, most sophisticated communications network and is the leading provider of long-distance, data transport and wireless services. AT&T operates in more than 200 countries and territories around the world.
For more information about AT&T Automotive Network Services, go to: www.att.com/ipservices. More information about the AIAG and the ANX network can be found at www.aiag.org. More information about the ANX can be found at www.anxo.com.
Note to the editor: ANX and Automotive Network eXchange are registered U.S. service marks of the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) Southfield, Mich.