ATLANTA -- Randstad North America, a provider of professional employment services, has signed an estimated $25 million, three-year contract with AT&T for an integrated networking solution supporting approximately 500 locations across the United States and Canada.

The contract renews and expands a long-standing business relationship between AT&T and Randstad. It also includes local, long-distance, teleconference services and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications supported by AT&T's fully managed, dedicated high-speed Internet access solution.

"We put more than 50,000 people to work everyday. Fulfilling our commitment to our customers and talent in a time-sensitive environment is a huge task that requires expertise and solid business relationships," said Larry Clark, chief information officer of Randstad North America.  "AT&T provides us with reliable and flexible tools that are an important element of our technology and associated operations workflow system, enabling us to focus on the quality of the transaction for our customers."

Randstad, a wholly owned subsidiary of Randstad Holding nv, the fourth largest staffing organization in the world, maintains one of the most sophisticated and integrated front- and back- office systems in the staffing industry. The system allows personnel "self-service" access and makes real-time data readily available. AT&T's integrated networking solution provides secure, instantaneous communications between Randstad's North American branch offices, allowing the company to track its talent, process payroll and manage the deployment of thousands of personnel each day. 

AT&T provides Randstad with a high-reliability solution that reduces network downtime and can save thousands of dollars in lost manpower and productivity.  Through the development of standardized processes, Randstad has streamlined transactions, reduced errors and increased employee productivity.

Randstad uses AT&T's VoIP service for outbound long distance from its corporate headquarters, significantly reducing the cost of national and international long distance. By running voice traffic on AT&T Managed Internet Service, Randstad is able to converge voice applications and realize fixed costs for enterprise-wide calling.

In addition, Randstad gains around-the-clock access to up-to-the-minute information about the performance of its network through the AT&T BusinessDirect® Web portal. Randstad can perform a variety of functions that help control the performance and cost of its network through the secure BusinessDirect Web site, including placing and checking status on orders, billing analysis, and issuing and tracking maintenance requests. 

About Randstad North America

Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., Randstad North America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Randstad Holding nv, a $5.9 billion provider of professional employment services and the fourth largest staffing organization in the world, with 2,269 offices in 17 countries across Europe and North America.  In 2003, Randstad's 12,280 worldwide employment experts put 206,000 people to work around the world each day.  During the same period, Randstad North America's 2,230 staffing professionals put 193,273 individuals to work in the U.S. and Canada and provided employment services, outsourcing and counsel to 12,000 U.S. and Canadian employers through 463 branches and client-dedicated locations across the U.S. and Canada.  In keeping with its focus on attracting and retaining the best talent, Randstad offers short- and long-term assignments, contract engagements and direct hire opportunities in five core practice areas -- Office Talent, Industrial Talent, Creative Talent, Technical Services and Professional Resources.  Randstad also offers eligible external talent skills assessments, career counseling, training, health and dental insurance coverage, paid vacation and generous employer contributions to a 401(k) plan.  More information is available at the company's Web site, www.us.randstad.com.  Investment information is available at www.randstadholding.com.