ST. LOUIS -- AT&T has won a three-year $10.5 million contract from Enterprise Rent-A-Car to develop and implement an integrated networking platform for e-business applications in Europe.
AT&T said it will provide an integrated high-speed, secure networking and hosting solution for Enterprise's 300 locations in Germany, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. The initial rollout will network approximately 40 sites this year, with the remainder migrating to AT&T from other suppliers in 2004 and 2005.
Additionally, Enterprise will co-locate its servers at AT&T's Internet Data Center (IDC) in the U.K.
The AT&T solution supports Enterprise's "rental redesign project," which will enhance customer service by bringing the latest point-and-click technology to all Enterprise locations. AT&T's network deployment enables Enterprise to migrate its computer automated rental system from a satellite-based network to terrestrial-based transport, adding features, speed and flexibility.
"We are very pleased with the level and depth of global services and support we receive from AT&T under this contract," said Mike Preuss, Enterprise assistant vice president. "Robust upgrades in our technological systems are geared to keep pace with the growth we expect over the next few years -- and ensure that we remain on the cutting-edge of our industry."
The AT&T Frame Relay network provides the bandwidth needed to support Enterprise's new browser-based rental application and related office automation applications. All Enterprise European locations will have high-speed online connectivity to the company's headquarters in St. Louis, gaining access to databases and business applications resident there.
AT&T said the solution will provide improved network availability, route diversity, and dual high-speed links to Enterprise's major data centers.
The contract expands AT&T's relationship with Enterprise, which already includes domestic U.S. frame relay services, customer premises equipment and other professional services.
"Gartner recently rated AT&T as a leading European data service provider, citing our aggressive European network expansion and dependability to build mission-critical networks," said Thomas Cannon, AT&T business sales vice president. "We feel this was key in winning this contract extension and we look forward to growing together as Enterprise expands its European business."
