Accenture to Assist AT&T; Service Unit

AT&T; Corp. will spend $2.6 billion over five years on consulting from Accenture Ltd. to cut costs and improve service for almost 60 million residential long-distance customers.

The agreement will allow AT&T;’s consumer unit to reduce customer-support and sales costs by more than 50%, the companies said.

Accenture will provide technology and management for sales and customer service.

Shares of New York-based AT&T; fell 9 cents to close at $18.82 while shares of Accenture, incorporated in Hamilton, Bermuda, rose 45 cents to close at $25.39, both on the NYSE.