[April 18, 2005] Hovnanian Builds Strong Foundation With AT&T Networking Contract Tweet RED BANK, N.J., April 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Hovnanian Enterprises Inc., one of the nation's largest homebuilders and a newly named Fortune 500 company, has awarded AT&T a multimillion-dollar contract for networking services. The one-year extension of an existing agreement ensures continuity of networking services at approximately 500 Hovnanian facilities nationwide. AT&T provides a networking solution that links Hovnanian's headquarters with administrative facilities and construction sites. It affords Hovnanian associates access to proprietary corporate applications hosted on the company's network, and also allows Hovnanian to add new sites to the network to accommodate growth. AT&T will also support Hovnanian's business continuity plan by deploying AT&T ACCU-Ring(R) Network Access Service at Hovanian's new headquarters building in Red Bank. ACCU-Ring is a self-healing solution that automatically reroutes voice and data traffic around cut or damaged cables. In addition, the company plans to roll out a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) software over the network, which will allow Hovnanian to better coordinate all aspects of the business. "We are pleased to strengthen our ongoing relationship with AT&T," says Ed Kocur, Director of IT Infrastructure for Hovnanian Enterprises. "We plan to roll out new applications that will enhance our customer service and support additional sites that we've gained through growth and acquisitions, while reducing our costs by approximately $250,000 per year." Hovnanian can monitor the performance of its network and applications through the secure AT&T customer portal, AT&T BusinessDirect(R), which provides operational efficiencies including around-the-clock online access to real-time reports on network performance and direct connection to trouble management systems. About AT&T For more than 125 years, AT&T (NYSE "T") has been known for unparalleled quality and reliability in communications. Backed by the research and development capabilities of AT&T Labs, the company is a global leader in local, long distance, Internet and transaction-based voice and data services. About Hovnanian Enterprises Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., founded in 1959 by Kevork S. Hovnanian, Chairman, is headquartered in Red Bank, New Jersey. The Company is one of the nation's largest homebuilders with operations in Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. The Company's homes are marketed and sold under the trade names K. Hovnanian Homes, Goodman Homes, Matzel & Mumford, Diamond Homes, Westminster Homes, Forecast Homes, Parkside Homes, Brighton Homes, Parkwood Builders, Great Western Homes, Windward Homes, Cambridge Homes and Town & Country Homes. As the developer of K. Hovnanian's Four Seasons communities, the Company is also one of the nation's largest builders of active adult homes. AT&T CONTACT: Karyn Price of AT&T, +1-609-397-4880, ext. 204, [email protected] Web site: http://www.att.com/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]