AT&T is launching a tool it says will change the game for partners as they qualify Ethernet-based services.

The company on Tuesday announced a tool that automates the process of determining the availability and speed of certain Ethernet services.

“Wholesale customers want to do business with a company that is open, fast and responsive, and that’s exactly what we’re enabling with the launch of this new tool,” said Brendan Floyd, vice president of AT&T’s wholesale solutions. “It helps wholesale customers quickly and easily check the availability and speeds of select Ethernet-based services, which allows them to compete more effectively.”

The company says the tool automates the qualifying process, and as a result, reduces the time from hours, days and weeks to just minutes.{ad}

“We’re making it as easy as possible for service providers to help their customers move from legacy services to transformative technologies like 100-Gigabit Ethernet and AT&T Switched Ethernet Broadband Port,” Floyd said.

David Gibson, Birch Communications’ vice president of business development, said his company joined AT&T’s pilot program last year to help test and experiment with the tool’s interface.

“We need to be able to quote service availability quickly and ultimately integrate our backend systems for expedited service delivery,” Gibson said. “Additionally, we have worked to integrate this technology with tools we provide our channel partners, allowing those who sell for us to better serve our customers. In today’s fast-paced business environment, innovations like this are critical to our organic growth plan.”

Mike Lesher, AT&T’s executive director of product marketing management, said AT&T followed MEF”s framework “to deliver an API flow … that lets our wholesale customers validate AT&T Switched Ethernet services within our 21-state footprint.”

The tool mixes two of AT&T’s APIs and is customizable for wholesale customers.

“The tool’s capabilities are leaps and bounds ahead of the manual process the industry is currently accustomed to,” Lesher said.