AT&T, Frost Ink Network Services, Wireless Contracts

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) today announced two contract agreements with San Antonio-based Frost National Bank, one of the largest banking institutions with headquarters in Texas. Under the contracts' terms, AT&T will upgrade Frost to high speed network services and provide integrated wireless and wireline voice services.

Frost will upgrade to AT&T's Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)-based Virtual Private Network (VPN) services. With this solution, Frost will improve the security and reliability of its data-flow management. The AT&T network is also highly scalable, offering Frost the flexibility to customize its network services to expand when levels of higher bandwidth are required.

For customers, this means that they can continue to rely on Frost for fast and secure access to their financial information.

Additionally, Frost is using AT&T's integrated offering for wireline and wireless voice services. By combining these services under one contract, Frost can take advantage of a discounted wireline-to-wireless calling rate.

"In evaluating our network and voice services, we had two primary goals: continuing to provide the best service possible to our customers and sustaining our commitment to operational efficiency," said Gary McKnight, senior executive vice president of Operations and IT Administration for Frost. "AT&T offered a solution with the kind of connectivity we need to help reach those goals."

In addition to network and wireless voice services, AT&T provides Frost with a full suite of voice and Internet access services. The agreements renew and expand a long-standing relationship between the two companies.

Frost is a subsidiary of Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE: CFR), a financial holding company headquartered in San Antonio, with assets of $13.5 billion at September December 31, 2007. The corporation provides a full range of business and consumer banking products, investment and brokerage services, insurance products and investment banking services. Frost operates more than 100 financial centers across Texas in the Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio regions. Founded in 1868, Frost is one of the largest banking organizations headquartered in Texas, with a legacy of helping Texans with their financial needs during three centuries.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. In 2008, AT&T again ranked No. 1 on Fortune magazine's World's Most Admired Telecommunications Company list and No. 1 on America's Most Admired Telecommunications Company list.

Source: AT&T