AT&T offers TelePresence as a service

AT&T is planning to offer Cisco’s TelePresence solution as a managed service.

Named the ‘AT&T Telepresence Solution’, it pairs Cisco TelePresence with IP networking and VPN functions from AT&T.

Ronald E. Spears, AT&T group president of Global Business Services, said the service allows businesses to “make better business decisions”.

With full 1080p high-definition video and spatial audio, the vendors claim the solution recreates the experience of being in the same room as the other participants.

AT&T is also planning to develop several industry-specific telepresence applications, including industries such as health care, high-tech, retail and government.

The vendor said the service will be available in 23 countries in the second half of 2008, with additional countries planned for 2009.