AT&T Announces New Data Services Contract With the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T Inc. today announced a new optical and data-networking services contract with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), one of the most recognized rehabilitation hospitals in the country.

Under the terms of the five-year contract, AT&T companies will expand RIC's bandwidth by implementing a fully managed switched-optical Ethernet service to 14 RIC locations throughout Chicago. With additional bandwidth and redundancy, RIC will be able to securely transmit Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications and data traffic among the organization's locations, improving productivity and overall patient care.

AT&T companies will also provide RIC with dedicated Internet access to digital high-speed connectivity that's always available. AT&T companies are the primary provider of voice and data services to RIC.

"We wanted to uphold our reputation as the best rehabilitation hospital in America by working with a communications provider that could help us expand our capabilities and improve our productivity," said Tim McKula, CIO, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. "We're confident that AT&T companies will provide us with high-quality equipment and services to help us effectively care for our patients."

"We're thrilled to serve the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago," said Vicki Jones, president-Business Communications Services, AT&T Global Services, Inc. "Our optical services will allow RIC's doctors, administrators, and health care providers to utilize new technologies that will help reduce inefficiencies so that they can focus on their most important business: their patients."

About The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) is dedicated to helping people with all levels and types of physical disabilities regain or improve their physical functions and empowering them to participate more fully in family, social, vocational and leisure time pursuits. The Institute has been ranked the 'Best Rehabilitation Hospital in America' by U.S. News & World Report, every year since 1991 and is the first independent rehabilitation hospital in the country to receive the Magnet award for excellence in nursing services by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. For more information, please visit http://www.ric.org/ .

About the New AT&T

AT&T Inc. is one of the world's largest telecommunications holding companies and is the largest in the United States. Operating globally under the AT&T brand, AT&T companies are recognized as the leading worldwide providers of IP-based communications services to business and as leading U.S. providers of high-speed DSL Internet, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. AT&T Inc. holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which is the No. 1 U.S. wireless services provider with more than 52 million wireless customers. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and AT&T products and services is available at http://www.thenewatt.com/ .

Subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. provide products and services under the AT&T brand.

First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact: