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Think about the last time you downloaded a new app.  A few taps on the device and the app is ready to use. New functionality, instantly.

Now, imagine the ability to extend that simple process to things in the real world – a few taps to add functionality to things connected to the network. Like instantly adding more physical storage capacity to your U-verse DVR or adding AT&T Digital Life to your personal network.  Now scale that functionality from a single user to the scale of the entire network.  When you look at how businesses will be able to tap into more complex services at the click of a button, without having to change any hardware. It’s transformational.

Last week, we announced the User-Defined Network Cloud, our vision for network that taps the flexibility of cloud computing and applies those concepts to the network. Think of it as a model for “network-as-a-service.” Advancements in software will help make that happen. 

Read more about John Donovan speaking at the Open Networking Summit on the future role of software defined networking in our complete Innovation Space blog post.

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