AT&T Awarded Multimillion Dollar Global Networking Contract from Valassis Communications

June 27, 2005; 09:05 AM

Monday, June 27, 2005 - Livonia, Mich. – AT&T announced today that it has been awarded a multimillion dollar global networking contract from Valassis Communications, a leading worldwide marketing services company. 

Under terms of the five-year agreement, AT&T will provide a portfolio of voice, data and business continuity services integrating more than 25 Valassis locations across North America and Europe. The agreement extends and expands a long-term relationship between the two companies.

Valassis offers a full range of strategic marketing, advertising and media services to a wide variety of companies.

The AT&T solution provides Valassis with secure, high-speed connectivity linking its remote offices and printing facilities with its corporate headquarters. The increased bandwidth enables Valassis employees to quickly and easily access corporate databases, share large multimedia files and collaborate in real-time on client advertising campaigns. In addition, AT&T will provide high-speed Internet access, giving mobile and virtual employees the ability to securely access the company’s intranet to handle day-to-day transactions.

“We are in an information-intensive business and rely heavily on our network to collaborate on client projects and campaigns,” said Bill Blackmer, Valassis vice president of strategic sourcing. “We selected AT&T because they have the size, global reach and a proven track record for network reliability and security to support our needs.” 

Through the secure AT&T BusinessDirect® portal, Valassis gains around-the-clock access to real-time information about the performance of its network and a direct connection to electronic billing and ordering systems. AT&T BusinessDirect was recently recognized by the Yankee Group for providing customers with the strongest online support and service experience in the industry.

About Valassis
Valassis offers a wide range of marketing services to consumer packaged goods manufacturers, retailers, technology companies and other customers with operations in the United States, Europe, Mexico and Canada. Valassis' products and services portfolio includes: newspaper-delivered promotions and advertisements such as inserts, sampling, polybags and on-page advertisements; direct-to-door advertising and sampling; direct mail; Internet-delivered marketing; loyalty marketing software; coupon and promotion clearing; and promotion planning and analytic services. Valassis has been listed as one of FORTUNE magazine's "Best Companies to Work For" for eight consecutive years. Valassis subsidiaries include Valassis Canada, PreVision Marketing(R), LLC, Promotion Watch, Valassis Relationship Marketing Systems, LLC and NCH Marketing Services, Inc. For additional information, visit the company Web site at http://www.valassis.com .

About AT&T

For more than 125 years, AT&T (NYSE “T”) 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.