Banfield, The Pet Hospital Finds ‘Purfect’ Relationship with AT&T

Thursday, April 28, 2005 - PORTLAND, Ore. - Banfield, The Pet Hospital® has awarded AT&T a multimillion dollar contract for a global voice and data network, which will ensure the fast and secure transmission of operational and medical data. 
Portland-based Banfield has expanded into the United Kingdom and Mexico and will open approximately 100 new locations a year in the United States, adding to its existing presence of more than 450 hospitals worldwide. With the three-year contract, AT&T wins Banfield's business away from MCI.

"As we continue to expand our operations, it is absolutely critical that we have technology to bring each facility online quickly," said Banfield CIO Dan Baldock. "AT&T worked with us to ensure its global network would fit our needs today, while also ensuring we would have the reliability and the scale to continue to extend our reach around the world. Having secure and fast access to medical information and other resources is central to our ability to serve our customers and their pets."  

AT&T's Virtual Private Network solution also paves the way for Banfield to evolve to a converged data and voice network platform by deploying Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services in the future. With VoIP, voice and data travel over the same network, providing benefits on several fronts.

Banfield can monitor the performance of its network and applications through the secure AT&T customer portal, AT&T BusinessDirectâ, which provides operational efficiencies including around-the-clock online access to real-time reports on network performance and direct connection to trouble management systems. In addition, as part of the new agreement Banfield will be able to consolidate all of the company's telecommunications services on a simplified, single bill. 

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.

About Banfield Pet Hospital:
Founded in Portland, Oregon in 1955, Banfield, The Pet Hospital is the nation's largest private veterinary practice, with more than 450 locations in the U.S., the U.K. and Mexico. Banfield is committed to giving Pets the same medical care people expect for themselves. The hospitals provide the finest doctors, computerized medical records, modern facilities, comprehensive Pet health Optimum Wellness Plans®, and extended hours on weekends and evenings. Banfield extends the lives of more than 3.5 million Pets each year.