AT&T, Accenture to tackle managed e-mail service

AT&T and Accenture this week launched a managed e-mail and messaging service targeted at the enterprise, marking the first step toward AT&T incorporating enhanced desktop features into its IP portfolio.

Simply called Enterprise Messaging Service, the hosted e-mail offering is based upon the Microsoft Exchange Server platform, the most ubiquitous platform in the industry. But the platform is just a jumping-off point to future messaging applications and enhanced features including VoIP desktop applications AT&T plans to roll out beginning late this year. By giving up basic e-mail management to the carrier, enterprises are positioning themselves to take advantage of numerous unified communications and VoIP services built into the desktop and optimized into the exchange platform, services they wouldn’t be able to manage themselves in any efficient manner, said Chris Molke, director of managed application services for AT&T.

"AT&T has already made movement into voice over IP," Molke said. "But in order to take advantage of those advanced VoIP applications, messaging is the first thing they [enterprises] need to bring into the managed services space."

AT&T and Accenture added that AT&T and Accenture are working with possible customers on roadmaps that will incorporate IP PBXes with upcoming enhanced features such as unified communications and find-me-follow me services and eventually integrated voice, video and text messaging. The cost of managing today’s complex messaging platform will be enough to convince some companies to outsource e-mail, but the promise of new feature sets integrated into their Exchange platforms will convince many more, said Bill Gourgey, a partner in Accenture’s communications and high tech operating group.

"There is resistance from some of our clients because e-mail is so critical to their operations," said Gourgey. "But because it’s so critical and the platforms are becoming so complex, many of them are considering [outsourcing]. Plus, we’re offering a lot more than just e-mail management."