From Idea to App: New AT&T Service Allows Almost Anyone to Develop Cloud-Based Business Apps

DALLAS, Nov. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- We've all done it at some point.  You're at work, doing the same-old-same-old, and thinking certain processes could probably be made easier and simpler through technology. Now you can build a cloud-based app for that – without having to write a single line of code – and make it accessible from any device, all at the click of a mouse.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111115/CG06428-a)

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111115/CG06428-b)

AT&T* Platform as a Service (PaaS) allows any business professional to build, develop and deploy cloud-based business apps without the need for complex coding expertise, while also providing a robust platform for true developers.  

"AT&T Platform as a Service is like rocket fuel for developing cloud apps," said Steve Caniano, Vice President, Hosting and Cloud Services, AT&T Business Solutions.  "This is another step in our commitment to helping businesses deliver cloud-based solutions, and we are unique in our ability to surround the ease of use of Platform as a Service with the flexibility, reliability and security of the AT&T global network."

With the announcement, AT&T becomes the only telecommunications service provider to offer truly enterprise-grade Platform as a Service capabilities in the U.S., pursuing a piece of the cloud computing market that independent research firm Forrester Research Inc. estimates will grow from $0.8 billion this year to $12.15 billion by 2018.(1)

Key Features of AT&T Platform as a Service:

• A complete cloud-based development and deployment platform
• Web tools and customizable templates for software development, including a library of 50 pre-built apps which can be customized or used as-is
• A high-performance, redundant and scalable infrastructure to run online applications and databases
• Development tools to mobilize applications
• Integrated social networking features
• 7x24x365 infrastructure monitoring, management and support
• A monthly per-user fee for access to AT&T Platform as a Service applications.

Independent software vendors, corporate line-of-business leaders and information technology departments are typical customers for platform as a service capabilities.  AT&T Platform as a Service offers many benefits to application developers:

• Line of business managers can easily create new enterprise-grade applications, distribute, and manage them across an entire user base without causing application slow-down or downtime
• Independent software vendors can accelerate the time-to-market of their apps
• Enterprise developers can consolidate many back-office applications onto a single, fully-managed, secure environment that allows them to be accessible by PCs or mobile devices.

"We've been able to radically accelerate our app development and delivery using AT&T Platform as a Service," said Juan Perez, CEO, ekeepo, an independent software company specializing in delivering cloud apps for businesses.

AT&T's Platform as a Service capability is integrated with AT&T's network-based cloud to offer a complete enterprise-grade package, allowing application developers to build business apps that can take advantage of the scale, performance, capacity, security and reliability of the AT&T global network.  

Built with ease of use in mind, AT&T PaaS is based on LongJump's cloud technology platform, which has been recognized by Forrester Research in its evaluations of Platform as a Service providers.(2) The AT&T solution is billed monthly on a per-user basis, and being cloud-based means it can scale up or down depending on demand – and be billed accordingly.

"Platforms for application development and deployment are usually either highly productive and narrow in scope, or challenging to use but able to address complex activities," said Stephen D. Hendrick, Group Vice President for application development and deployment research at IDC. "Vendors that can provide the best of both worlds, by combining comprehensive enterprise class application development capabilities, simplified management & lifecycle support, and a secure reliable network will find success in the market.  AT&T appears well positioned to address these emerging Platform as a Service needs."

AT&T plans to make it easy for developers to use its application programming interfaces (APIs) through this offer, allowing them to further innovate with AT&T technologies.

For more information about AT&T Cloud solutions:  www.att.com/cloud-news

AT&T's cloud solutions, including AT&T Platform as a Service, can be purchased at www.synaptic.att.com

(1) Forrester Research, 'Sizing the Cloud', April 21, 2011

(2) Forrester Research, "The Forrester Wave™: Platform-As-A-Service For Vendor Strategy Professionals, Q2 2011" May 19, 2011

*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 and one of the most honored companies in the world. 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 mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV 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 Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. 

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.  This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.

© 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. Mobile broadband not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE AT&T Inc.