AT&T Partner Exchange has introduced a new set of Application Programming Interface (API) capabilities, Ethernet offer enhancements and self-service support targeting the growing solutions channel community.
With the internet access direct consumption API, AT&T Partner Exchange will help solution providers check service availability and generate quotes in near real-time for AT&T internet access service. When the new API becomes available, it will let solution providers embed the application in their own sales tools.
AT&T noted traffic on its API platform has grown by 40% over the past year and that they will “help solution providers respond more quickly to customer needs, cut inefficiencies and scale their business.”
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Being the largest domestic Ethernet provider, according to Vertical Systems Group’s Ethernet Leaderboard, AT&T Partner Exchange is expanding its switched Ethernet offering to include faster speeds for point-to-point, any-to-any and hub and spoke implementations.
Additionally, solutions providers can also get near-instant site qualification and quotes via the AT&T Partner Exchange portal. Similar to the internet access API, these upgrades can speed a solution provider partner’s business and reach in the market.
Complementing the Ethernet and internet API capabilities, AT&T introduced a new Support Center that can connect solution providers with the AT&T Partner Exchange Service Management team in one place. Solution providers will not only be able to manage services with more flexibility and visibility, but also access Support Center tools and resources 24x7 and quickly find answers to common questions.
Already, the Support Center is being used by AireSpring, a cloud communications and connectivity provider that works with over 14 service providers, to deliver services directly to business customers and through various channel partners.
"These types of resources give us added visibility and flexibility to effectively manage and streamline operations,” said Darren Sandford, SVP of operations at AireSpring, in a release.
Developing APIs for Ethernet and internet services is part of a broader initiative at AT&T to virtualize more functions and deliver new capabilities like on-demand Ethernet across its broader network footprint.
In February AT&T, Orange and Colt teamed up with the MEF and TM Forum to create what they say is the first set of application programming interfaces (APIs) for orchestrated Carrier Ethernet services. AT&T and Orange Business Services have been collaborating on developing standardized APIs that will enable SDN architectures from different network service providers to interoperate with each other.
When the API is released this year, the initiative uses MEF's LSO (Lifecycle Service Orchestration) framework and TM Forum's Open API framework.
Rosemary Cochran, principal of Vertical Systems Group, said in a release announcing the AT&T and Orange partnership that “the need for a standardized approach to orchestrating services across multiple provider networks” is a key enabler to deliver wide-scale on-demand Ethernet services.