Unitor Sails With AT&T in $2 Million Networking Agreement

March 22, 2005; 07:20 AM

HOUSTON - March 22, 2005 - Looking to enhance its global connectivity and operational capabilities, Unitor, a leading service provider to the international merchant fleet and shipbuilding industry, has awarded AT&T a $2 million contract to provide a secure, integrated global networking solution. The three-year agreement renews and expands a longstanding relationship between the two companies.

On-time performance is critical for Unitor's success and for the success of the global shipping system it serves. Last year, Unitor made 177,000 deliveries in 1,603 ports and 553 shipyards worldwide. When a vessel arrives in port, Unitor is there to deliver the services and products ordered. With the help of advanced information technology (IT) and planning systems, Unitor helps to ensure that the vessel sails on time. Even brief delays are unacceptable.

According to the agreement, AT&T will deploy a high-speed networking solution that integrates 29 Unitor sites around the world. The solution enhances Unitor's ability to seamlessly manage its global operations, including supplier and customer relationships, inventory control and pricing information.

Based on AT&T's Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network (IP VPN) service, the solution will significantly strengthen Unitor's international service and distribution network.

"Given the mission critical nature of our data and the fact that our people are constantly on the move, we needed a vendor with global reach, flexibility and security," said George Muthalaly, Chief Technology Officer of Unitor. "With AT&T's help, we are leveraging our expertise in information technology and logistics to ensure that we deliver what we promise to our customers - ship owners, ship managers and shipyards, in more than 1600 ports and 550 shipyards worldwide."

With AT&T VPN service, customers are able to create a global, application-aware environment with the performance, service reliability, predictability and security that is needed for today's network-based applications. The fully managed VPN incorporates Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), which provides the flexibility of any-to-any communications and the ability to prioritize different types of traffic - for instance, voice versus e-mail or fax. Additionally, it paves the way for Unitor to evolve to a converged voice and data networking platform by deploying Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services.

About Unitor
Unitor serves the marine, cruise and offshore markets within the areas of Safety, Refrigeration, Chemicals, Gases, Welding, tank insulation for LNG vessels, Repair and Maintenance. The company develops and delivers competitive products; service and systems through the marine industry's largest global supply network comprising 65 wholly owned offices and 156 agents in 73 countries, servicing approximately 1,600 ports.

About AT&T
For more than 125 years, AT&T (NYSE "T", www.att.com) has been known for unparalleled quality and reliability in communications. Backed by the research and development capabilities of AT&T Labs, the company is a global leader in local, long distance, Internet and transaction-based voice and data services.