AT&T VoIP adds to equipment list

AT&T said on Wednesday that its business-class voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service is now interoperable with telephone equipment from Alcatel, Nortel Networks and Siemens. It previously announced interoperability with Avaya and Cisco Systems equipment. The carrier also said it will unleash VoIP-based IP Centrex, call center and telecommuter applications by midyear.

The carrier's expansion of its IP services for businesses is a likely response to increasing competitive pressures from major telephone companies that have also recently entered the market for selling VoIP to businesses. Small and midsize businesses are among the earliest adopters of the technology, which makes phone calling cheaper and adds new features not available on traditional phone networks.