StrategiNet, Inc. this week penned a
four-year, $100 million deal with AT&T
Corp. to expand its U.S. footprint.
The contract comes on the heels of the reseller’s Monday announcement of a deal with major retail-chain consortium RETEX, a 2,100-member organization that
includes stores like The Gap Inc., Barnes and Noble
, and Toys ‘R Us,
Inc.. The RETEX agreement will constitute a
significant amount to StrategiNet’s revenue for years
to come.
Anticipating its good fortune, the company gave its shareholders a present
by way of a 2.5-to-1 stock split in June.
The four-year deal is an extension to StrategiNet’s current contract with
AT&T to provide asynchronous transfer mode to frame relay
internetworking, wireless services and software defined network voice
services. The contract, however, extends its points of presence to more
communities throughout America to accommodate its deal with RETEX.
StrategiNet relies heavily on companies like AT&T for the business services
it offers customers. The reseller has positioned itself to retailers, fast
food chains and banks to provide wide area network services and
support. The company also caters to credit card processing companies,
hardware and software vendors, and check verification companies.
Shahid Quraeshi, StrategiNet chief executive officer, said AT&T was the
only provider that shared his company’s strategic vision.
“We sent all the major companies like Sprint Corp. and Worldcom, Inc.
, a
request for bid,” Quareshi said.
“One of our subsidiaries is a consulting
firm and AT&T is frequently used by our clients for telecommunications
services. They share our vision of quality service, plus they have more
POPs than any other telco. This contract, Quareshi said, gives us the
funding to expand our operations throughout the U.S.”
Ken Sichau, AT&T business services sales president, said his company is
glad to continue its relationship with StrategiNet for the next four years.
“We’re pleased that StrategiNet has selected AT&Ts data services as the
foundations for its offers,” Sichau said. “We’re confident that the
quality, reliability and flexibility of AT&T’s high-bandwidth ATM service
will help StrategiNet meet the critical needs of its customers in the
retail industry.”
