AT&T Among America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises and for Multicultural Business Opportunities

DALLAS, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T* announced today that the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) has named AT&T one of America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises (WBEs) in 2009 for being a world-class leader in the inclusion of women business enterprises in its supply chain. This is the only national award honoring corporations for world-class programs that create level playing fields for WBEs to compete for corporate contracts.

WBENC, the nation's leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America's corporations, has honored AT&T every year since the list's inception 11 years ago for its efforts in breaking down barriers that impede women-owned businesses from gaining fair access to procurement opportunities.

"It is a true honor to be included in this list, particularly as AT&T marks the 30th year since launching our WBE-specific program. I'm pleased to see the growing number of corporations that are as committed as we are to increasing contracting opportunities for women business enterprises," said Tim Harden, AT&T president of Supply Chain and Fleet Operations. "Our diverse suppliers consistently bring unique value to our supply chain – from innovative business solutions to added agility and cost savings. They are the driving force behind some of our most technologically advanced products and services."

Last year, AT&T launched its Women of Color Businesses Growth Initiative at WBENC's 10th Annual Women in Business national conference.  The year-long program mentors a pilot group of small, women-owned business owners to develop the tools and strategies necessary to win large corporate contracts. A key component of the program is assisting the firms in obtaining TL9000 quality certification. AT&T introduced the program mentees to the WBENC network as a powerful learning and marketing resource for their businesses.

The America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises Awards presentation will take place on Thursday, March 25, 2010, in the Benjamin Franklin Room of the United States State Department in Washington, DC. The event will occur during WBENC's 2010 Summit and Salute to Women's Business Enterprise: The Opportunity Connection, an event attended by thousands of women business owners and celebrating 14 Women Business Enterprise Stars who are exemplary WBEs from across the country.

Additionally, DiversityBusiness.com recently named AT&T one of America's Top 50 Corporations for Multicultural Business Opportunities, ranking No. 2 for outstanding support of women- and minority-owned businesses. The award is based on such factors as the volume, consistency and quality of business a corporation grants to women- and minority-owned suppliers. It is a leading indicator of which organizations provide the best and the most business for diversity-owned companies. AT&T, which has topped this list in previous years, has ranked in the top 10 for 10 years — every year since the list's inception.

AT&T is also a member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable, a supplier diversity think tank of 17 corporations that spend more than $1 billion annually with diverse companies. Last year AT&T spent more than $6 billion with diverse suppliers. AT&T is also a longtime board member and strong supporter of WBENC, a corporate member organization whose mission is to certify WBEs and advocate for the continued success of women in business.

* AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. AT&T offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse(SM) and AT&T | DIRECTV(SM) brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T's Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations are known for their leadership in directory publishing and advertising sales. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE® magazine's list of the World's Most Admired Companies.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.