AT&T Wins Gustave A. Larson Networking Contract

September 27, 2005; 08:47 AM

September 27, 2005 - PEWAUKEE, Wis. -- AT&T announced today it has won a three-year, $1.2 million networking contract from Gustave A. Larson Co., a leading wholesale distributor of residential and commercial heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) equipment, parts and supplies.

AT&T will help the company manage its $40 million inventory by providing a high-speed, high-bandwidth network integrating its 43 distribution centers across the Midwest, and enabling Larson to maintain the 24-by-7 servicing environment its customers rely on. 

The fully managed Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network (IP VPN) will help the company more efficiently track inventory – which is replenished overnight at each location – and increase product speed to market. The AT&T network also will enhance online ordering, payroll, pricing, e-mail and other back office applications. Additionally, it provides a path for the company to implement videoconferencing and Voice over IP (VoIP) services.

AT&T also will provide a fully managed data security solution, including a secure e-mail gateway and a network-based firewall, from its Internet Data Center (IDC) in Arizona.  AT&T operates 26 IDCs around the world.

“By selecting AT&T to provide and manage our communications infrastructure, we’re able to increase the efficiency of our operations while significantly reducing our costs,” said Frank Mirocha, Senior Vice President and CIO of the Gustave A. Larson Co. “This helps us exceed customer expectations – a key part of our corporate mission and commitment to quality. No other telecommunications company can match the service, technology and advanced features that AT&T offers.”

The contract also includes high-speed Internet access and the renewal of AT&T voice services.
Through the secure AT&T BusinessDirect® portal, Larson has around-the-clock online access to real-time reports on network performance and direct connection to electronic billing and trouble management systems. AT&T BusinessDirect was recently recognized by the Yankee Group for providing customers with the strongest online support and service experience in the industry.

About Gustave A. Larson Company
The Gustave A. Larson Company, with 44 locations serving 20 states, is a leading wholesale distributor of residential and commercial HVAC, refrigeration, controls and food service equipment and supplies. Each branch carries an extensive inventory of equipment and replacement parts to serve customer's needs.

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.