AT&T Supports New Microsoft Server to Provide Security-Enhanced Access to Corporate Networks from Smart Devices

AT&T Commits to Support for Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager

San Antonio, Texas.-AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) announced today that AT&T will team with Microsoft to support Microsoft’s System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008. The comprehensive, enterprise-grade mobile management security and access server was introduced today by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2007 in San Francisco. Mobile Device Manager will be available in the second quarter of 2008.

Mobile Device Manager is a new server that will provide mobile workers who use smart devices that are enabled for Windows Mobile with information beyond e-mail, attachments and the Web. Users now will have secured access to applications, files and other information located on the corporate network. For example, AT&T customers using smart devices that are enabled with Windows Mobile and support Mobile Device Manager will now be able to access information such as price sheets, marketing collateral or legal documents on the corporate network — items that were previously available only through PCs or laptops.

At the same time, Mobile Device Manager will give the corporate IT departments of AT&T customers that use Microsoft software new security and management tools that work well with current technologies, such as Active Directory. These tools will increase security and device-management and help customers to manage smart devices similar to the way they manage desktop computers.

“We believe that Microsoft’s Mobile Device Manager will be a catalyst to much greater adoption of wireless data applications beyond e-mail by medium- and large-size enterprises,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president-Marketing and Operations for AT&T’s wireless unit. “Many IT organizations have been reluctant to broadly extend their business applications to mobile devices because of security, management and complexity concerns. But Microsoft has gone a long way toward addressing these concerns through the capabilities available in Mobile Device Manager while enabling customers to capitalize on their existing investments in Microsoft technology, including Active Directory, Exchange and Sharepoint.”

“AT&T and Microsoft see a great opportunity to help enterprises extend Windows Mobile solutions further into their businesses to help them stay on top of their busy work days,” said Pieter Knook, senior vice president of Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business. “We are working closely with AT&T and its phone manufacturer partners to provide customers with the software they need to maximize the creation of a work environment that will support the mobile scenarios that help them work no matter where they are.”

The AT&T Tilt, BlackJack II™ and other smart devices enabled for Windows Mobile 6 to be introduced later this year will support Mobile Device Manager around the time of the server’s expected availability in the second quarter of 2008. AT&T, which has the broadest portfolio of smart devices enabled for Windows Mobile of any U.S. carrier, and Samsung unveiled the BlackJack II today at the CTIA conference. The BlackJack II, which is expected to be available later this year, was also displayed today during Ballmer’s CTIA address.

“Given AT&T’s leadership in the Windows Mobile space, we are fully committed to working with Microsoft to bring its first end-to-end wireless-focused enterprise solution to our customers and give them an outstanding experience at the outset when they use Mobile Device Manager,” Bradley said. “AT&T is closely involved with Microsoft on several levels on this launch. Our activities include developing joint go-to-market programs to help customers evaluate and ultimately deploy Mobile Device Manager, as well as ensuring compatibility between smart devices that support the new offering and AT&T’s network and other wireless data services.”