AT&T Recognized by Leading Analyst Firm With 'SMB Excellence Award' for Small Business Web Experience

DALLAS, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Further validating its commitment to support the growth and success of small businesses nationwide, AT&T* today announced that it received a "Small and Medium Business (SMB) Award of Excellence" from leading industry analyst firm IDC. The award was given in recognition of the outstanding SMB Web experience provided by AT&T's Small Business InSite and the Small Business Mobile Application Recommender Tool (SMART).

IDC recognized AT&T Small Business InSite for its balance between providing content depth and usability for small business owners. The site continues to build a community by providing access to helpful how-to articles, online courses and free webinars by small business experts that cover a variety of topics including e-commerce, making business decisions and how to efficiently use technology for business growth. It allows AT&T to be a technology advisor for firms with limited IT resources as well as an overall business advisor for small businesses - regardless of their technology provider.

AT&T also was recognized for its dedication to offering accessible, relevant, and easy to use online resources to small business owners via its Small Business Mobile Application Recommender Tool, which can be found by visiting www.att.com/smart . The tool allows business owners to build a business profile by selecting from a list of industries, mobile worker types, and mobile devices of interest, and then indicate which of several different functions they would like to be able to perform. Based on that input, the tool returns a list of recommended business solutions. Clicking on any result gives a detailed description and a phone number to reach a small business sales representative.

"AT&T displays an impressive awareness of the needs and selling challenges associated with small business," said Timothy Doherty, associate research analyst for SMB Mobility, IDC. "AT&T Small Business InSite offers essential business resources to AT&T customers and prospects, while its SMART application tool greatly eases the task of mobile application selection."

"AT&T Small Business InSite provides small business owners with a great balance of advice and access to Small Business experts," said Alicia Dietsch, vice president of Marketing Communications, AT&T. "We're further excited about evolving this resource to enable entrepreneurs to actively share ideas with us and with one another."

Small businesses looking to find information about AT&T products and services can visit www.att.com/smallbusiness . Additionally, real-time information can be found on the AT&T Small Business Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz ) and Twitter channel ( www.twitter.com/smallbizInSite ).

The AT&T Small Business InSite Web site complements AT&T's industry-leading portfolio of communications products and services for small businesses in key areas such as wireless voice and data, local and long distance voice, high-speed Internet, messaging, and advertising.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. AT&T offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse(SM) and AT&T |DIRECTV(SM) brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T's Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations are known for their leadership in directory publishing and advertising sales. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE® magazine's list of the World's Most Admired Companies. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com .

© 2009 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 3G service not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.

About IDC

The IDC SMB Excellence Awards are granted to technology providers who in IDC's view are serving the SMB market in innovative ways, providing advanced technology capabilities to firms with fewer than 1000 employees. Nominees for the IDC SMB Excellence Award are evaluated on the basis of three key criteria: the creation of products and/or programs that specifically address the unique needs of SMBs; the business implications of these products or programs for the nominated firm; and the competitive impact of these products or programs. The award recipients are selected by IDC's SMB Research team in consultation with the IDC analysts that follow the relevant technology market associated with these products or programs. The full report is IDC#220604

IDC is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 1000 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries worldwide. For more than 45 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com .

SOURCE AT&T Inc.