AT&T has struck another major deal in the IT sector. After IBM, the operator has partnered with Microsoft to expand its cloud operations, both within the company and for customers. Microsoft will be the preferred cloud provider for non-network applications, as part of AT&T’s broader public cloud first strategy, and will support AT&T as it consolidates its data centre infrastructure and operations. The companies will also develop joint services, focusing on edge computing and 5G developments.
After selling its data centres, AT&T is migrating most of its non-network workloads to the public cloud by 2024. The aim is to keep its focus on its core network capabilities and reduce costs. The agreement with Microsoft includes the IT giant's cloud-based productivity and collaboration tools over Microsoft 365 for AT&T employees and the migration of non-network infrastructure applications to the Microsoft Azure cloud platform.
AT&T also plans to collaborate with Microsoft on computing through edge technologies and 5G. Recently, they worked together to test an edge computing-based tracking and detection system for drones. The aim is to combine the global scale of Microsoft’s Azure cloud and AT&T’s domestic 5G capabilities to enable unique solutions for the companies’ mutual customers.
The companies will bring to market integrated industry solutions, including in the areas of voice, collaboration and conferencing, intelligent edge and networking, IoT, public safety, and cyber security. The companies already have joint enterprise solutions for networking, IoT, and blockchain in market, and expect to announce additional services later in 2019.
In addition to their technology collaboration, AT&T and Microsoft will work together on technology-enabled approaches and solutions aimed at social good. Both companies have been focused on addressing sustainability, accessibility, and community challenges such as homelessness and see an opportunity to support each other’s work to address urgent social needs, including Microsoft’s affordable housing initiative and the AT&T Believes campaign.
