AT&T follows Google and IBM, unveils 'cloud computing'

Aug 5 (Reuters) - U.S. phone company AT&T (T.N) has joined the likes of Google Inc (GOOG.O), Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) and IBM (IBM.N) in delivering Web-based business services from its data centers rather than having customers run the services themselves.

The new service, which is a part of AT&T's $1 billion planned global network investment in 2008, will span the United States, Europe and Asia.

AT&T's latest move reflects the company's efforts to capitalise on the shift by customers away from in-house computer systems to "cloud computing" -- a less expensive alternative.

One of AT&T's first customers is the U.S. Olympic Committee, who's official Web site is powered by AT&T's service, the company said in a release. (Reporting by Purwa Naveen Raman in Bangalore; Editing by Greg Mahlich)