AT&T Considering Mac OS X for Internal Use, Report Says

AT&T is evaluating different operating systems, including Mac OS X and Linux, as alternatives to Microsoft Windows for internal use, according to a report by CNET News.com.

The report says AT&Tis;chief information officer, Hossein Eslambolchi, has set up a team to assess other operating system alternatives and will make a final decision by the end of next year or early 2006. A company spokesman said engineers are testing and measuring how Windows, Linux and Mac OS X stack up on security, reliability and total cost of ownership.

Company spokesman Michael Dickman said AT&T is not actively seeking to replace Windows and most likely will stick with Windows, because Microsoft is addressing many of problems associated with its desktop software, including security flaws that leave it particularly vulnerable to viruses.