DALLAS, Oct. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --
What's the news? AT&T* is launching a new
wireless service discount, waiving home internet data overage
charges for AT&T Internet customers through December 31, and offering free expert guidance
and other resources to help small and medium-sized businesses
(SMBs) save money and virtualize their businesses to survive and
thrive despite the impacts of COVID-19.
How do small businesses benefit? Our new
offer allows qualifying business customers to get $10/mo. off for the life of service on an
eligible Unlimited plan1, when they purchase a new
smartphone on installment and have qualifying AT&T Internet or
AT&T Business Fiber Service.2 It's designed to help
small businesses make the most out of their connectivity to keep
their businesses up and running – whether they're in the office, or
on the go.
Many small business owners are navigating support for their
customers from home and at their business, so we're automatically
waiving home internet data overage charges for AT&T Internet
customers through year-end. That means new and
existing AT&T FiberSM and AT&T
Internet customers can use unlimited data and won't see
overage charges on their home internet bill through December 31. And, all AT&T new and existing
customers, whether buying or upgrading their smartphone device for
personal or business use can now take advantage of a broad array of
smartphone deals we recently announced.
Why is this important? According to a September Alignable
survey of 6,325 small-business owners, 42% of respondents said
they risk business failure in 4Q 2020.
Why do small businesses need to virtualize? Recent global
studies of consumer buying show more than 36% of consumers shop
online weekly since the beginning of COVID-19, up from 28%
pre-COVID-19, and only 5% plan to try a product in-store in the
next 6 months. Connectivity, e-commerce, and the know-how to
succeed online have never been more important for small
businesses.3
What else is AT&T doing to help small
businesses? When the pandemic began, we began
offering SMBs resources, payment relief and other remedies to help
them cope. In addition to our new offers, we're doubling-down with
more resources to help them succeed:
- Social Media and Going Virtual Playbooks - We've
launched free step-by-step guides to help small businesses
understand how to virtualize their business to create a 24/7
selling cycle and use the power of digital to meet customers where
they feel most comfortable. Our playbooks provide actionable steps
for small businesses needing to pivot amid the pandemic. They
include detailed guidance to help businesses harness the power of
e-commerce, digital marketing and social media, and cybersecurity:
offering a blueprint for how small businesses can seize marketplace
advantage with virtualized operations, workforce, workspace and
customer service.
- Barbara Corcoran Webinar Series - We are sponsoring a
series of free webinars featuring expert entrepreneur Barbara Corcoran of ABC's "Shark Tank." The
webinars feature Ms. Corcoran and small business founders and
experts who provide insights, advice and guidance to help small
businesses – restaurants, retailers, hospitality and more – learn
how to adapt and grow personally and professionally. Their stories
offer lessons every business can benefit from.
- AT&T Aspire Accelerator is currently hosting its
second $1 Million Skills Building
Challenge to locate, support and mentor startups working to
redefine how students prepare for promising futures. More than 40
startups have participated in the Aspire Accelerator, including 70%
women-led companies and 51% minority-led companies.
How are small businesses benefitting from AT&T? Our
core connectivity and advanced technologies are helping small
businesses transform their operations, improve operational
efficiencies and succeed in a challenging business environment
marked by the accelerated shift to online everything. We're
there when they need us most. Some examples include:
- Constant Companion provides network-connected smart
speakers to home healthcare agencies, hospitals and assisted living
facilities in 197 cities and towns across the U.S. The smart
speakers allow the sick, disabled, elderly and infirm to easily
connect to care providers in real time. Constant Companion uses our
IoT platform to provide users a seamless experience to connect with
others.
- PMG Ventures is an Atlanta-based custom designer, fabricator and
manufacturer of food shields for restaurant equipment dealers and
food service consultants. With the arrival of COVID-19, demand for
PMG's sneeze guards and safety glass skyrocketed just as PMG was
launching a new company and trying to transition employees to work
from home. They needed to upgrade their voice and data networks and
handle new demands on their system: simultaneously supporting large
data file transfers and a remote workforce. We provided AT&T
Dedicated Internet to deliver all the bandwidth they need to
support ultra-fast download and upload speeds. We also provided
them AT&T Office@Hand, a flexible cloud-based solution that
gives their staff voice calling, fax, text messaging, audio and
video conferencing, and collaboration tools to help them remain
productive from home or the office.
- Treker is a communication platform powered by
AT&T IoT that enhances student safety and provides tools for
school bus drivers, parents, and administrators. AT&T supplies
the bandwidth, Internet of Things (IoT) expertise, and highly
secure connectivity that enables Treker's unique tracking solution
to give parents peace of mind through near-real-time data on the
location of buses and students. "Without AT&T connectivity,
there would be no Treker. We rely on the strength and reliability
of the AT&T network," says Treker President Gina McDuffie.
Quote from Barbara Corcoran,
Founder, The Corcoran Group
"On any given day, small businesses are confronted by myriad
challenges to keep the lights on. COVID-19 compounds this
challenge. It's important they understand how to go virtual to
reach their customers: using digital connectivity to improve
operational efficiency, maintain and grow their customer base, and
support their dispersed employees."
Quote from Anne Chow, CEO,
AT&T Business
"Today, all businesses are in the technology business. Thanks to
the power of connections, business owners can keep both their
physical and virtual doors open while also creating new experiences
for their customers and teams."
Quote from Stacey Marx,
President, AT&T National Business and Channels
"With consumer habits moving to more digital and touchless,
brand loyalty is out the window. The best news is that small and
nimble can win in this environment. Small and medium businesses can
meet customers where they feel most comfortable and bring new value
outside of a physical store through unique experiences. We're
delivering the solutions and resources to help them thrive."
Where can I find more information? Go here for
more information about AT&T for small businesses.
1 AT&T may temporarily slow data speeds
if the network is busy. Eligible plans include AT&T
Business Unlimited Starter, AT&T Business Unlimited
Performance, and AT&T Business Unlimited Elite.
2 Subj. to Change. Avail. only to qual.
business customers. Req's new line and min. $100 on installment agmt. Receive $10/mo. credit on wireless svc for the duration
of continued bundle. Charges apply for eligible wireless and
Internet services. Internet service address must match wireless
billing address. Credits start w/in 3 bills. If svc cancelled,
credits stop & device balance due. Limit 10 credits per
account. Add'l fees, taxes & other charges, limits &
restr's apply.
3 – Selligent July survey of 5,000 consumers in
North American and Europe and The
New Store Shopper in High-Touch Retail, conducted by Incisiv.
*About AT&T Communications
We help family, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways
every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video
streaming, we @ATT innovate to improve lives.
AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc.
(NYSE:T). For more information, please visit us at
att.com.
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SOURCE AT&T Communications