Conclusion

What started out as the first telephone company introduced by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876, AT&T has now grown into one of the most robust telecommunication companies in the world. Key infrastructure developments have continually taken place in order to meet the ongoing demand in information sharing platforms. Its reach now expands end users in personal, business, and enterprise. As the industry has changed in recent years, AT&T has adapted to the environment by offering many other types of services such as wireless, landline, broadband, and TV.

By introducing cutting edge technology as they have done in the past, AT&T will ensure being the number one telecommunications company for years to come. Although the softening of the world economy is being felt throughout all industries, AT&T understands that providing value to their products is crucial to stay competitive.

TECHNOLOGY

What type of network they have?

At&t uses Edge data network, GPRS and also UMTS. These networks are all used for cell phone usages. A network is two or more computers that are connected together so that they can communicate with each other and share information, software, peripheral devices and or processing power.

What kind of interface do they use?

An interface is an expansion card for a desktop computer or a PC card for a notebook computer that connects your computer to a network and provides the doorway for information to flow in and out. The type of interface that the company uses was not available to the public.

What kind of media?

Media is a variety of ways to communicate. Cingular video allows you to watch video on your cell phone. It also allows you to send and to receive messages, email, pictures and video on your cell phone. Today the I Phone has brought everything you need into one single device. Internet, text messaging, video and even ones I pod. All this has been brought to one device and it is called the I Phone.

What kind of communications software? What kind of connecting devices or components?


Communication software is used to provide remote access to systems and exchange files and real-time messages in text, audio and/or video formats between different computers. At&t allows their workers to work from there homes if need be by connecting in to the network. The software that allows them to remote access all depends on which operating system they are running. The type of connecting devices and devices used were not available for public knowledge. The company probably uses such connecting devices such as hubs or switches. A hub and a switch is a wired network that connects many computers to that one network. They allow each computer to talk to each other.

How do they connect to the internet and at what speeds? Do they use Voice over IP?

They connect to the internet through the Edge Network and through the UMTS network. The operating speeds for the Edge Network are 70/135 per minute and for the UMTS is 220/320 per second. At&t provides Broadband and VPN for their customers. Yes they use Voice over IP. "Voice over IP - AT&T has both consumer and business VoIP service offers that provide enhanced voice communications services integrated with IP/Data features." Voice over IP

How do they apply the four principles of network security?

The four principles of network security is Confidentiality, Authenticity, Integrity, and Availability.

Confidentiality- means that information can be obtained only by those who are authorized to access it. Confidentiality includes information such as bank statements, business plans, credit card reports and employee evaluations.

Authenticity- means that information really comes from the source it claims to come from. It’s important to be sure of the authenticity of things like military orders, medical diagnoses and many others. Web sites can also be manipulated. This can be a threat to you because you might not be at the actual website

Integrity- means that the information has not been altered.

Availability- means simply that a service or resources is available when it’s supposed to be. For example if your corporate e-mail server is always down, business partners might not trust working with the company. The company could end up losing millions of dollars.


What is their domain name?

The domain name that AT&T currently is using is http://www.att.com/ AT&T

What are some hardware categories used in (or sold by) your company?

Hardware consists if the physical devices that makes up a computer. Some of the hardware categories that AT&T use and sell are modems, mobile, landlines phones, rotary phone, internet services, touch phone, cell phones and voice over IP. For landline installations for home or business use the wires, the jacks are all part of the installations.

What brands of computer? The brands of computers that they use are mostly Dell. In this center they use Dell, HP, and Compact each center can variety. What types of computers? The company uses personal computer and supercomputers but it all depends on what the usage is for. If it is for a regular call center or store AT&T will provide them with a personal computer but if it is for Technology development then they would use super computers.

Who is responsible for the hardware and software?

The person or department that is responsible for the hardware and software is the Technology Team.

What types of system software is used (sold)? Is Linux used?

Software is a set of instructions that your hardware executes to carry out a specific task for you. The call center that I called told me that they use regular Windows XP and they do not sell any system software. The call center was not sure about the usage of Linux. Linux is a free Unix type of operating system created by Linus Torvalds with the assistance of developers from all around the world.

What types of application software is used (sold)? What brands?

Application software is the software that enables you to solve problems or perform specific tasks. The call center told me that the information of application software and there brands was confidential information.

What are some files used in your company? What databases do they use and what is the brand of database software?

A file is a collection of records; a key field is the way to identify the records. AT&T Inc. has many files and records but this information was not available on the Internet. Most files comprise of customer numbers, names, phone and primary contact. It also uses files for billing information account numbers and social security numbers. The data bases that AT&T uses are customer file and billing file.

What are databases? a database is a software that is designed to offer an organized mechanism for storing, managing and retrieving information.. AT&T Inc. has a network-security database that had been used to store Internet traffic.

There are many brands of databases and Oracle is the 2nd most famous software company after its leading competitor Microsoft. AT&T uses a database that is developed by Aurora is a network-security database that had been used to store Internet traffic data since approximately 2003. The Aurora database contains huge amounts of data acquired by firewalls, routers, honeypots and other devices on AT&T's global IP (Internet Protocol) network and other networks connected to AT&T's network. Aurora DataBase

Who is responsible for the database? How do managers get reports and what types of reports do they recieve?

William Zakrzewski is the AT&T database Administrator. Managers get reports from SQL servers; it generates reports in the typical databases environment. Reports help generate information that each manager would like to know up-to-date information about. The fields of information will come up as one report. The types of reports that are generated are for business intelligence. For example data/logic incorporates neural networks to generate rules for highly successful stock and bond trading systems. It can also incorporate fuzzy logic to analyze real- time technical processes. AT&T Administrator

Is OLAP used? Is a data warehouse used? Are data marts used? Explain.

Online analytical processing (OLAP) is the manipulation of information to support decision making. OLAP is used in business reporting for sales, marketing, management reporting and business process management. Yes AT&T uses OLAP. Microsoft SQL server 7.0 OLAP services and a customized interface for the ProClarity 2.0 OLAP client. This service has helped AT&T find a solution to enable 500 AT&T business analysts, sales professionals, and product managers to analyze vast amounts of data to improve sales targeting and account penetration.OLAP

Yes a data warehouse is used the reason it is high recommended because it makes reporting and analysis easier to be put together. Oracle data warehouse is used to capture process and production data, which is populated nightly into the Oracle data warehouse. Data mart works side by side with the data warehouse. The data mart is subset of a data warehouse in which only a focused portion of the data warehouse information is kept. AT&T uses the data mart in its finance department. The data mart contains only merchandising- specific information and not any information. The data mart software that AT&T uses is called FileTek Solutions for Call Detail Data Warehouse. FileTek

What types of data mining is used? Who is responsible and what software

The main purpose of data mining is to help sort large amounts of data and picking out relevant information. This process is usually used by Business Intelligence (BI) organizations, financial analysts. The types of data mining that is used is daily sales volume of a large number of items sold at several thousand store locations of large retail enterprise, packet loss among several source-destination pairs on the network of a major internet service provider (ISP) like AT&T, percentage of calls received at a call center cross- classified by caller intent and the location of orientating calls number of medical requisitions for different medical tests performed at several lab locations of a major health provider. It was not shown who was responsible for data mining but it was enclosed to contact Rick Becker if there was any questions or comments. They use data mining algorithms and clever databases tools but the name of the software was not disclosed also. Data Mining

Business Strategy

AT&T uses broad/differentiation as their business strategy. The company provides service worldwide and has a higher cost compared to everyone else in the industry. They can justify the cost by its customers that they have the latest in wireless communication technology not just domestically, but globally. In the US, AT&T is the exclusive wireless carrier for the iPhone. By offering such a technologically advanced smart phone, they are able to increase the cost of their service due to the demand of the product. Not only are they offering wireless communication services but they also provide broadband, TV, and landline communication.

Porter’s Five Forces

AT&T is a company that has services available in different market segments; local and long distance telephone services, DSL and wireless.. The threat of new entrants is low because the initial startup costs are very high. A wireless company has to rent out or purchase its own reception towers and in some cases purchase satellite receptors. Telephony giants like AT&T have also created entry barriers; consolidated company that offers home and business telephone, wireless and internet access.

Buyer power is high because there are several other competitors who are offering compatible services. AT&T as well as other cell phone service providers must use switching costs that include a two year contract. This is because the competition is so strong that prices must keep lowering and benefits must keep increasing in order to attract and keep a customer. In the case of the customers who want the iPhone their powers are low because it is a product offered specifically to AT&T users.

The bargaining power of suppliers is low to moderate. The AT&T Corporation outsources its services such as cost-management, customer service, product-performance, and the production of all of their cellular phones. AT&T is the largest provider of both local and long distance and wireless service. There are many suppliers that AT&T could work with, so the suppliers have low power. Employees have higher supplier power because of the other available competitors. Apple has a strong supplier power because they are an all inclusive company whose iPhones are in high demand, their cutting edge technology would benefit any service provider.

AT&T’s rivals include Qwest Communications International Inc., Sprint/Nextel and Verizon. The competitors are continuously trying to offer the most services for the least monthly amount. All the competitors have similar monthly plans for their cell phone services, so whoever has the lowest operating cost will have the largest profit margin.

There are threats of substitutes thanks to technology. Customers have the option of using internet based providers such as SKYPE. It is free and can be used to make international call. There are VoIP providers like Vonage, who don’t use telephone lines but instead are connected through the internet. Other substitutes include online chatting, video messaging, Cable modem, dial-up modem, or simply not using a telephone.

Business Initiatives

With a company that has been around for over a hundred years. It is not surprising that AT&T is utilizing all four of the major business initiatives.

The first major business initiative that is used by AT&T is the supply chain management. Supply chain management tracks inventory and information among business processes and across various companies that do business together. The software that they used is provided by the largest in the industry, which is I2. With this software, AT&T has recently turned to real time wireless data solutions to help the company streamline the supply chain to sales reps with critical customer information that is needed to increase sales, give equip drivers and merchandisers real time data to improve the productivity within the company. This wireless solution means current inventory can be evaluated; orders are placed immediately and delivered in a timelier manor to retail outlets. Since AT&T has updated to real-time wireless to improve the supply chain management area, it has reached higher levels of satisfaction, lowered cost of workplace efficiency, with the possibility of increasing market value. This area would be top line because it focuses on reaching new customers, products, and the linking of services between several companies. It is also a bottom line because with the department it cuts the cost of services.

A customer relationship management service collects information about customers needs and wants in order to create a better service that fits all these areas to create customer satisfaction. At AT&T, CRM enables people within the company such as sales managers to gain insights in several areas in order to serve them better. With the wireless CRM that AT&T uses, the company has the ability to acquire more information about customers trends and patterns in sales, as well as desires in orders to create a more unified service for the customers. On top of that when customer have the need to call AT&T for any reason they are asked to voluntarily participate in a survey on the companies services and why they are calling giving the CRM more valuable information to go on. Would be Top-Line because it focuses on recent and future customer who could increase or decrease sales if the are not satisfied.

In Business intelligence, the knowledge about your customers, your competitors, and environment is vital to the development of a company. AT&T uses Business Intelligence which is a number of tools and applications to gain and receive knowledge about their customers, competitors, and how they are operating internally. The software that the company uses is called “Attack Database”, which replaced their Microsoft SQL server. AT&T uses this data to receive real time data on competitors’ sales, tactics, and growing target markets. BI has also helped the company keep up with customer trends and links this information to all the departments within the company. This area would be Top-Line because it focuses on new customers and possible new products that competitors might or are going to sell.

E-collaboration is an area that uses technology tools to support several activities within the company, knowledge management systems, social networking. AT&T uses e-collaboration to create a social network so that they can communicate within the company and other companies to create meetings or post ideas that may be beneficial for the company in the future. This also cuts out any tedious paper work and gets information where it needs to go, which is provided by linked in. This is Bottom-Line because it could help minimize errors in how the company does business. Several individuals could link into this area a discuss issues or ideas that could harm or help the company in the future.

e-Commerce

AT&T uses the two perspectives of e-Commerce; Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Consumer (B2C). AT&T provides its consumers and its businesses with the same products and services. AT&T sells wireless, DSL internet and a home phone service. Exclusive to businesses are products such as a network transport, teleconferencing, and a secure email system.

Internet Business Model

AT&T.com internet business model is Business to Business (B2B) e-commerce and Business to Consumer (B2C) e-commerce. The AT&T website is broken down into three sections; personal, small business and enterprise. Consumers and businesses can order directly from the website, no matter if it is a cellular phone or order DSL service, and an enterprise can order wholesale products for resale or services which would make AT&T a B2B (MRO).

Marketing Mix

According to Affiliate Network Program
“The new AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced the launch of its Business Affiliate Network, an innovative program that enables businesses and professional organizations to earn commissions by promoting AT&T services on their Web sites, Joining the affiliate network is free, and AT&T companies make it easy for Web site owners to participate by providing a tag generator, a program that creates links to AT&T products from the affiliate Web site. Owners can simply copy and paste the tag generator code to their Web sites. Additional information on the network is available at http://www.b2baffiliate.sbc.com/.”

AT&T uses online ads at Yahoo.com during times when new phones or services are released. They do not use pop-ups and have instead worked with Yahoo to create the Yahoo toolbar pop-up blocker.

Payment Systems

AT&T offers a variety of payment options with the flexibility of paying your bill by mail, by phone, online, or in person. They have an Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment system, where you can pay with a checking or savings account, credit card, electronic, check, or cash, or set up an Automatic Bill Payment.

INTRO/HISTORY/CEO

AT&T Inc. has become the worlds leading telecommunications provider for consumers and businesses through out the United States and Internationally. The reason for AT&Ts popularity is because it provides a large amount of services that most of the other telecommunication companies can not. They have recently bought out the wireless tycoon, Cingular Wireless, which is now known as AT&T wireless. The company now provides wireless services, as well as long distance, prepaid, and post paid service plans. After buying out Cingular Wireless the company had opened an avenue into the sales of cell phone accessories, as well as personal computer wireless data cards. On top of all that, AT&T also offers a wide range of internet services that can be used inside the average house hold to conference meeting being held overseas. These services can range from your basic dial up to DSL/broadband, and WiFi. With the expansion of the company’s services and growth within the telecommunication services the company has become the highest ranked phone service in the industry.

SOCIAL AND ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

AT&T has a proud heritage of corporate social responsibility that will continue to be an integral part of the company's future.
AT&T and its employees are committed to enriching and strengthening the communities they serve through financial support and volunteerism.
AT&T governance practices require honest and ethical conduct in all of its business operations.A Promise to Do What Is RightAT&T Inc. is committed to the highest standards of ethics, integrity, personal and corporate responsibility and adherence to laws and regulations that govern our business.
AT&T's Code of Business Conduct provides basic guidelines that help employees make responsible and ethical decisions. At least once a year, employees must sign an acknowledgement that they have read and understand the code. Violations are considered a serious matter and may result in disciplinary action, including dismissal.

RISK AND SECURITY MANAGEMENT

AT&T selected the Founding Enterprise Risk Solutions from Founderstone Inc. The company deployed the Founderstone Enterprise solution across multiple locations on multiple networks and over 400,000 live devices. The AT&T security team reports that the systems are operating well.

In 1984, AT&T and U.S. Department of Justice agreed to strip the company of its local telephone services and maintain its long distance and manufacturing operations within the company. AT&T was striped of its local telephone services due to its monopoly growth within the industry. Once AT&T could no longer provide its local services to it customers it branched out and created the company SBC Communications, which was formally, know as Bell South.

"In 1996, the Telecommunications Act was passed by congress which triggered a ripple effect though out the phone industry. Once this Act was passed it gave telecommunication companies the endless possibilities of growth with very little boundaries. In 1996, SBC Communications Inc. established itself as a global communications provider by acquiring the following companies, Pacific Telesis Group, Southern New England Telecommunication, and Ameritech. In 2005, SBC Telecommunications Corporation bought out AT&T, revamping AT&T internally and externally. After AT&T finalized its merger with Bell South and unifying the ownership between Cingular Wireless and yellowpages.com in 2006, AT&T became the world’s leader in the telecommunication industry. " News Release

What made the growth of AT&T so successful was their newly appointed CEO and Principal Accounting Officer, R. Randall L. Stephenson. Randall Stephenson graduated with a B.S. from the University of Central Oklahoma
and his received his M.B.A. from the University of Oklahoma. Before he was appointed CEO of SBC Communications, Mr. Stephenson was the company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 2000 t0 2004. From 1996 to 1999, Mr. Stephenson had been the Controller of SBC. Stephenson has also been the Director of Cingular Wireless Corporation till October of 1999. He than went on to be the Manager of Cingular Wireless Lic., till 2001 where he than served as chairman from 2003 to 2004.