AT&T, American Express create pact to deliver technology solutions to SMBs

AT&T (NYSE: T) and American Express OPEN believe they can help small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) overcome challenges in procuring telecom services on a tight budget.

Looking to serve as an advisor to SMBs, the two companies have developed an alliance that will provide technology tips and insights online and other special service offers and promotions.

Under the terms of the agreement, AT&T has become the exclusive sponsor of the Technology "Idea Hub" on OPEN Forum, an online site that will provide everything from information, news and other related content that they say will help SMBs grow their business. The OPEN Forum content will also be available on AT&T's Small Business InSite that targets the SMB audience.  

Of course, a big focus of the alliance is services.

Qualifying American Express OPEN card holders that sign up online will be able to get special promotional pricing on some AT&T wireless plans and devices, including smartphones and LaptopConnect cards.

American Express OPEN Cardmembers purchasing AT&T solutions, including those that purchase AT&T's popular "All for Less" packages, which include both wireless and wireline broadband and website hosting, tech support and data backup, are eligible to get American Express gift cards.

As AT&T increasingly sees more competition in the SMB space from regional CLECs and increasingly cable operators leveraging their existing coax plant, these incentives show that the telco wants to give more attention to a market segment whose needs been often ignored.   

For more:
- see the release

Earnings summary: Wireline in the second quarter 2011

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