Dallas, Texas, September 22, 2008 -- AT&T Inc. today announced new capabilities to extend an array of applications to mobile devices that are used by companies in targeted vertical industries.

AT&T Mobile Enterprise Applications offers hosted and managed mobile integration solutions and application consulting services for companies that want to extend their business-critical information to mobile employees. Supported by the Antenna Mobility Platform™ (AMP) developed by Antenna Software, a leading provider of mobile enterprise technologies and solutions, AT&T is expanding its delivery of mobile field service automation, sales force automation and information technology support applications. Read More ...

Nortel announced the launch of “Secure Portable Office,” which provides the hardware, software and services to provide secure network access for remote workers through a single USB thumb drive. When inserted into any computer or laptop, the solution creates a secure network connection through a Nortel VPN Gateway and a virtual desktop providing a menu of authorized network applications. When the USB key is removed, the complete Secure Portable Office environment - including all confidential data and applications - is automatically removed.

Embarq announced the launch of virtual private networks (VPNs) utilizing multiprotocol label switching (MPLS). MPLS VPNs can be used to deliver virtually any type of network traffic. Embarq's new MPLS VPN service provides network management with in-network routing, offering security and service quality for multimedia streaming applications like Voice over IP and video. Embarq will offer multiple customer options ranging from a port-only offering to a “Fully Managed Solution Bundles” including unbundled ports, access, router and maintenance combinations. Embarq is coordinating the launch of this new service with the launch of their new brand Embarq Business, which will offer a variety of SMB and enterprise level communications solutions.

Verizon Business announced they will begin offering managed network services for enterprise clients, featuring Juniper J-series routing platforms. Verizon Business claims to be the first U.S.-based service provider to deliver a managed service offering to enterprise customers for this class of routers. The new managed service offering is available immediately to U.S. based medium and large sized business and government customers. It has been certified with a variety of Verizon Business networking services, including Verizon’s Private IP, a multi-protocol labeling, system-based virtual private network service, as well as the company's private line and frame relay services. Verizon Business hopes the Juniper relationship will help expand its outsourced managed network solution, which currently manages 260,000-plus devices on 4,200 customer networks in 142 countries and territories.

It’s no secret that the cable industry sees the small/medium business and enterprise sectors as their next big growth engine. Continuing to grow revenue generating units in the consumer triple play sector is nice, but the growth hungry cable industry realizes that won’t be enough to satisfy shareholders and Wall Street. So it’s no surprise to see collaborative efforts like the one announced by Charter and Cox concerning fiber connectivity links. The two large MSOs have agreed to connect each others markets through fiber rings in their Nevada markets of Reno and Las Vegas. Similar links are taking place in California, between Orange County and Los Angeles. Cox and Charter have previously relied on telecom carriers to establish connectivity between markets.

The collaborative effort will target enterprise customers who have multiple locations, with Ethernet and IP transport services. “This agreement brings a competitive choice to businesses that need to communicate with locations in other key commerce hubs in the western U.S.,” said Jim McGann, vice president and general manager, Charter Business. Cox has been quite active with their Ethernet solutions, and now ranks as the fourth largest provider of Ethernet services in the country. By partnering with Charter, they are able to expand services beyond their traditional footprint. Expect to see more collaborative efforts like this among cable MSOs, as they continue to try to compete with well entrenched telecom service providers, who have long viewed the business communications sector and the billions of revenue it generates as their own.

Alltel Wireless announced the availability of SalesNOW, a contact, activity and deal management software designed for BlackBerry wireless devices. SalesNOW allows professionals to track and manage contacts, deals, activities and e-mails and share information with a sales team. The application is targeting enterprise users and is priced at $25/month for an individual and $40/month for enterprise customers. Users must subscribe to a qualifying data plan.

AT&T is making a new effort to position the iPhone as a business friendly tool. The iPhone’s first iteration was squarely consumer focused, but AT&T now intends to make a concerted effort to position the iPhone as a business option. They recently announced a plan to offer a $25 per month credit for data plans which may be more “enterprise” friendly. AT&T currently offers three enterprise data plans for the iPhone, all of which provide a bundle of SMS, web browsing, and email. The plans range in price from a low of $45/month to a high of $65/month. They also offer some international data plans.

XO says minutes and lines no longer matter for telephony services. They have launched pricing for telecom services based solely on bandwidth. XO argues, rightfully so, that voice service is no different than any other application riding their IP backbone. Instead of charging customers on a per line and charging for traffic by the minute XO’s new XO IPfolio product suite will charge for bandwidth tiers, including 1.5 Mbps to 45 Mbps. Customers can then select the number of telephony lines they want, based on bandwidth capacity. The XO IPfolio includes the following products: XO IP Flex, XO SIP, XO One iPBX, XO MPLS IP-VPN. The new pricing paradigm simplifies an often complex pricing scheme for business class telephony services.

XO hopes this new effort creates some differentiation for them in the highly competitive small business and enterprise markets. The business sector is getting hyper competitive as a trifecta of incumbent carriers, CLECs, and now cable companies battle it out for this lucrative market segment. Going to a bandwidth pricing model makes a lot of sense, and probably represents a glimpse into the future for telecom billing.

XO announced the launch of Unwired Office, an enterprise targeted fixed mobile convergence solution. XO will partner with Sotto Wireless to offer a single platform which provides a smartphone that can be utilized as an office phone and a wireless device. The platform will include broadband Internet access; a hosted PBX system providing features in and out of the office; individual smartphones with one telephone number for office and mobile calling; wireless email and messaging; optional IP desk phones; and in building wireless coverage through in-office WiFi networks and wireless service. In addition, the service enables businesses to transparently extend the office phone system to the home or branch office by using existing cable or digital subscriber line broadband services. One of the smartphones used by the platform is the dual mode Nokia E61i. The Unwired Office solution illustrates the continuing movement towards fixed mobile convergence.