PLANTATION, FLA. -- DHL, one of the world's leading global express and logistics companies, has signed a substantial three-year contract with AT&T. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Under terms of the agreement, AT&T will provide DHL locations around the world with high-speed, secure, online access to key business applications. DHL employees will enjoy virtually instantaneous access to the company's systems and databases, while DHL customers worldwide will see faster response times when they establish accounts, arrange pickups, track shipments and order supplies using DHL's Web site.
Under terms of the contract, DHL gains a standardized network for 650 locations in the United States. The contract renews and expands a long-standing relationship under which DHL has its long-distance telephone, toll-free, private-line, domestic and international data services with AT&T.
"In our business, a reliable, secure network is absolutely critical," said Gary Clark, vice president of global IS telecom services at DHL. "This solution addresses our immediate need to standardize our networking infrastructure across U.S.-based business units and sets the stage for us to evolve to a common global network."
AT&T's solution enables DHL to integrate all communications -- voice, data and video -- over one secure Internet Protocol network, with the flexibility to adopt new technologies in the future, including Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. VoIP enables businesses to increase productivity and performance at a lower cost.
AT&T is integrating DHL's data center infrastructure with AT&T Ultravailableâ Network Service, a custom high-availability service that provides private, high-speed fiber optic networks and the latest optical switching technology.
"Highly available connections to our customers support our drive into the U.S. market, and this technology innovation underpins that intent," said Clark. The fully managed and monitored fault-resistant solution will interconnect DHL's sites in a secure metropolitan area network, which provides redundancy, security and the ability to transmit large quantities of data at high speeds.
The DHL solution includes a network-based IP Virtual Private Network (IP VPN) with Multi-Protocol Label Switching, a networking architecture that enables connectivity across technologies.
About DHL
With annual revenues over $25 billion in 2003, DHL is the global market leader of the international express and logistics industry, specializing in providing innovative and customized solutions from a single source.
DHL offers expertise in express, air and ocean freight, overland transport and logistics solutions, combined with worldwide coverage and an in-depth understanding of local markets. DHL's international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. Over 160,000 employees are dedicated to providing fast and reliable services that exceed customers' expectations. DHL is 100% owned by Deutsche Post World Net. For more information on DHL, please visit www.dhl.com.
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.
