Hosted VoIP

AT&T announced on Tuesday the availability of the AT&T (News - Alert) CallVantage Softphone service. The move will enable subscribers to use the telecom giant's residential VoIP calling service and features from a domestic broadband connection, at home or on the go (where E911 service is available).

The telecom teamed up with SIP softphone developer CounterPath Solutions (News - Alert) for this project. The Softphone service will enable users to make and receive phone calls directly through their computer. The software can be easily downloaded to a PC or laptop. It features Caller ID, Call Waiting, Voicemail, Call Logs, Do-Not-Disturb and Locate Me services.

The Softphone service is available as either a stand-alone service or bundled with an existing AT&T CallVantage service account. Customers can choose from two AT&T CallVantage Softphone service plans: The CallVantage Softphone 300 Minute plan, which offers users 300 minutes of local and long distance calling within the U.S. and to Canada and Puerto Rico for $10.99 monthly (additional minutes will be charged at 4 cents per minute); and the CallVantage Softphone Unlimited plan, offering users unlimited local and long distance calling within the United States and to Canada and Puerto Rico for only $19.99 monthly.

Customers who bundle the Softphone service with an existing monthly AT&T CallVantage subscription will receive a $5-per-month discount. Customers can order the stand-alone AT&T CallVantage Softphone service online to receive their first month of service at no cost, along with a waived activation fee.

“The AT&T CallVantage Softphone service is a great complement to our AT&T CallVantage service, as well as our industry-leading portfolio of voice solutions, and a very affordable alternative for consumers who want to use broadband to stay connected,” said AT&T Consumer Assistant Vice President Tyler Wallis in a statement. “This innovative new solution also offers a great service for the younger, tech-savvy consumers looking for the flexibility to stay connected when they travel.”

The news follows AT&T’s announcement on Monday about the inking of a three-year contract to supply Magneti Marelli Controle Motor, a subsidiary of the Italian Marelli Holding, with enhanced virtual private network (EVPN) services connecting the company's locations in Brazil and the U.S. The deal is reportedly valued $250,000 (USD). Magneti Marelli designs and manufactures auto parts. The group is comprised of more than 24,000 employees in 16 countries.

The contract called for AT&T to provide virtual network services based on IP VPN to connect Magneti Marelli's industrial and R&D locations in Brazil and the United States. AT&T network services are based on a MPLS platform.

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AT&T Inc.
http://www.att.com

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Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet and INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit her columnist page.