IBM and AT&T* are teaming to help businesses manage their networking services more effectively and efficiently.

In a world in which hybrid cloud and IT-as-a-service deployments have quickly become a business imperative, existing networks do not offer the agility and support needed to respond to the demands of today’s ever-changing business climate.

AT&T and IBM are working together to help businesses meet these needs. Through the expansion of their strategic relationship, IBM will take advantage of AT&T’s new offering AT&T FlexWare, a transformative solution announced this summer that makes it easy to set up and manage virtual network functions (VNFs) on a single device. AT&T FlexWare, formerly called AT&T Network Functions on Demand, is available globally through the AT&T Network on Demand platform. The solution features both software-defined networking and network function virtualization technologies.

By taking advantage of IBM’s sales and marketing teams, the two companies are extending their global reach to bring new capabilities and additional cost savings to companies. AT&T will also be able to run applications on IBM’s cloud, cognitive, analytics and security infrastructure. In addition to making this available to clients, IBM has begun to roll out AT&T FlexWare in many of its own sites.

AT&T’s software-centric network architecture better enables companies to dynamically order, change and provision network services and functions. That means they can quickly respond to business needs and have the right adjustments made in near real-time.

“Working with AT&T, we continually are innovating in ways that not only meet our clients’ business objectives, but also strengthen one of the industry’s most powerful one-two punches,” said Richard Patterson, general manager, Infrastructure Services at IBM. “IBM will use these technologies to support the hybrid cloud evolution and deliver greater services to our clients.”

“Today represents the latest step in a long and mutually beneficial relationship between IBM and AT&T,” said Steve McGaw, chief marketing officer, AT&T Business Solutions. “By expanding our relationship with IBM, more customers will be able to take advantage of AT&T FlexWare that will adapt and grow with customers’ business needs.”