Top AT&T small business executive announces company to double small business leasing capacity over next 18 months, triple capacity over next three years
Washington, District of Columbia, October 12, 2011
Intended to propel the economy, the latest surge of small business loans may instead be weighing them down with high interest rates that reach the double digits.
With an understanding that small businesses are essential to U.S. economic growth, AT&T announced today that its leasing subsidiary – AT&T Capital Services, Inc. – is offering small businesses interest rates as low as 5.9 percent on equipment leases, well below bank loans, which are averaging nearly 10 percent.
In addition, the company also committed to doubling its small business leasing capacity over the next 18 months and tripling capacity over the next three years – allowing more companies to deploy new technology solutions or upgrade existing ones.
Delivering the news during a keynote speech at the annual Women Impacting Public Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. this morning, Cathy Martine, AT&T Executive Vice President of Small Business Solutions, said leases from AT&T Capital Services offer companies a competitive edge in this economy.
“Small business owners recognize the need to be up to date with the latest technology to keep their operations streamlined and cost effective,” Martine said. “We are providing access to additional financial resources to help these businesses acquire new technology that will set them apart from their competitors.”
Fueled by a continued interest in game-changing technology – ranging from mobile devices equipped with fleet management or GPS tracking applications to the rollout of tablets and laptops embedded with mobile broadband and Wi-Fi – AT&T Capital Services has more than doubled its mobile device lease financing to small business in the past year.
“Access to capital is a principal factor driving small businesses to expand, and AT&T recognizes the potential of each of the companies we support as they integrate new technology into their business,” said Anthony Lewis, President of AT&T Capital Services. “Whether companies choose to invest in the latest in tablets, smartphones, Wi-Fi networks, or mobile apps, we’re here to help them innovate and grow. We can help small businesses with transactions from as small as $1,000 to much larger amounts to support their acquisition of AT&T business solutions.”
Since introducing wireless leasing solutions last year, AT&T Capital Services has closed transactions totaling several hundred thousand dollars, with leases totaling several million dollars in the pipeline.
AT&T Capital Services was established in 1984 to support business customer purchases of AT&T products and services by converting one-time, upfront costs into monthly payments. To date, the organization has recorded more than $6 billion in contract originations for more than 5,000 commercial and municipal customers. Benefits of AT&T leasing currently include:
- Minimal capital outlay – allows customers to avoid down payments and make easy monthly payments that fit their budgets
- Lifecycle management – minimizes risk of technological obsolescence
- Packaged solution – offers one-stop shopping and a simple contracting process
- Reliability –AT&T Capital Services does not sell its lease contracts, holding and servicing them for their entire term
- Alternate source of credit to preserve bank credit line
- Competitive rates
Small businesses looking to find information about other AT&T products and services can visit AT&T Small Business. For free business resources such as webinars, white papers, training, case studies and best practices, they can visit AT&T Small Business InSite.
Additionally, real-time information can be found on the AT&T Small Business Facebook page and Twitter channel.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T, news, filings) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.
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Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this press release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.
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