AT&T to provide Microsoft with co-location hosting and Internet connectivity for its Microsoft Exchange Hosted Services (EHS).

AT&T Inc., yesterday announced a contract with Microsoft, to provide co-location hosting and Internet connectivity for its newly launched Microsoft Exchange Hosted Services (EHS).

The service offers fully managed messaging services that help organizations protect themselves from e-mail-borne malware, satisfies retention requirements for compliance, encrypts data to preserve confidentiality, and preserves access to e-mail during and after emergency situations, claims the company.

The contract with AT&T provides Internet Data Center space and Internet connectivity to support EHS services, including Hosted Filtering, Hosted Archive, Hosted Continuity, and Hosted Encryption. AT&T's Secure E-Mail Gateway Service, based on the Microsoft EHS platform, offers enterprise business customers a variety of benefits, including virus scanning, content filtering and spam filtering.

"AT&T is a trusted global provider of IP-based communications services with a proven track record and Microsoft highly values this relationship," said Eron Kelly, Director of Exchange Server Marketing at Microsoft. "Our customers rely on Exchange Hosted Services to help protect their network from the growing number of viruses and spam, and we are thrilled to work with AT&T to meet this demand."