Residential | Small Business | Enterprise | Wireless Region / Language
For Release Tuesday, October 12, 2004
AT&T Provides Networking Services To New Jersey Automotive Retailers
TRENTON, N.J. -- Automotive retailers across New Jersey now can purchase voice and data networking services more easily and less expensively, thanks to a $7.2 million contract the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJ CAR) has negotiated with AT&T.
The agreement allows the 650 members of NJ CAR, a nonprofit organization serving automotive retailers statewide, to leverage the purchasing power of the entire group -- giving smaller members access to the same volume-based price advantages for AT&T services as larger members. Additionally, volumes are "grossed up" across NJ CAR's membership, meaning individual dealerships don't have to commit to monthly minimum or term lengths to receive advantageous pricing.
The agreement covers an extensive portfolio of AT&T services, including local, long-distance, high-speed data and Internet access services. NJ CAR will provide provisioning and logistical support.
"We're pleased to be able to offer AT&T's high-quality services, bundled with the expertise of our staff to meet members' unique needs," said Jim Appleton, president of NJ CAR. "We're now able to provide a bridge between a first-tier telecommunications provider and our members to install and deliver top-notch service for our automotive dealer members."
About 250 NJ CAR members currently take advantage of the organization's telecommunications-purchasing program.
"By purchasing my dealership's telephone service and Internet access through NJ CAR, we've seen a reduction in our telecom bills, since we receive excellent prices based on members' combined volume," said Ed Barlow, president of Barlow Chevrolet in Delran, N.J. "And we get the same high-quality voice and data communications that a Fortune 500 company gets, coupled with the expertise and customer service of our NJ CAR representative. It's the perfect situation for my business."
AT&T will integrate services for NJ CAR members with its industry-leading AT&T Business Network (ABN) offer. ABN consolidates data, voice and Internet services communications needs into a single contract, with a single bill and discounts across all services. Through the secure AT&T BusinessDirect® portal, NJ CAR members gain online access to real-time reports on network performance and direct connection to electronic billing and trouble management systems.
About NJ CAR
The New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers, founded in 1918, is a non-profit organization serving franchised new car and truck retailers throughout New Jersey. NJ CAR's purpose is to promote the principles of commercial honor and integrity in the sale and service of motor vehicles. The primary objectives of NJ CAR are to further any legitimate interests of its members, to keep its members informed on a variety of business matters, practices, trends and legislation, and to provide special products and services to its members.
About AT&T
For more than 125 years, AT&T (NYSE 'T') has been known for unparalleled quality and reliability in communications. Backed by the research and development capabilities of AT&T Labs, the company is a global leader in local, long distance, Internet and transaction-based voice and data services.
AT&T 'Safe Harbor'
The foregoing contains 'forward-looking statements' which are based on management's beliefs as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events made by and information currently available to management. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside AT&T's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. These risk factors include the impact of increasing competition, continued capacity oversupply, regulatory uncertainty and the effects of technological substitution, among other risks. For a more detailed description of the factors that could cause such a difference, please see AT&T's 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This information is presented solely to provide additional information to further understand the results of AT&T.
