Archive for the ‘Internet T1’ Category
Internet T1 and Internet T3 Connections
How businesses use T-line connections to achieve success
In order for any company to grow and prosper in today’s fast-paced business world, it is imperative that they have the ability to reach out to employees and customers – regardless of their location. It’s a well known fact that the most successful companies today thrive on ISPs (Internet Service Providers) that provide reliable services complete with a comprehensive list of features that meet their requirements.
Internet T1 and Internet T3 lines (also referred to as T-line connections) are telephone lines comprised of either fiber optic or copper wires that offer 24 DS-0 channels. These channels permit data and voice transmissions at speeds ranging from 1.5 Mega bits per second (for Internet T1 lines) to 45 Mega bits per second (for Internet T3 lines), making them exceptionally faster than alternative services, such as DSL or cable.
Along with faster transmission speeds, Internet T1 and Internet T3 lines allow you to conduct multiple local and long distances telephone calls simultaneously without requiring the installation of any additional wires. This saves your company from having to pay for additional installation fees and costly phone charges.
What’s more, is that Internet T1 and Internet T3 connections are often considered an attractive solution for many businesses because they offer an “always on” connection, meaning they run 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. T-line connections also support advanced, high T1-bandwidth applications, including web conferencing, audio conferencing, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and multi-user Virtual Private Networking (VPN).
Due to the fact that Internet T1 and Internet T3 lines provide a great deal of high T1-bandwidth and the ability to support a large number of popular business applications, the pricing can run fairly high; and while pricing generally depends on your company’s office location, part of it is also determined by the type of Internet T1 or Internet T3 line you select. For example, there are a range of T-line connection types available:
- Fractional T-line connection
- Full T-line connection
- Integrated T-line connection
- Bonded T-line connection
- Dynamic T-line connection
- Voice T-line connection
Are you interested in learning more about Internet T1 and Internet T3 solutions? To find the ideal solution at the best available price that meets your unique business needs, contact one of our professional account managers today!
No Comments »Verizon Offers Three New Powerful Internet Access and VoIP Packages to SMBs
The popularity of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services as well as other IP communications continues to grow at a rapid pace. As a result, Verizon has launched a new set of offerings that were created to address to the rapid increase of Voice over Internet Protocol in the SMB domain and the ensuing demand for robust high-speed Internet connections. Additionally, Verizon’s new offerings also support the SMB-directed marketing efforts of Verizon Global Wholesale clients.
VGW’s three new packages were designed to cover the vital features and speeds that developing SMBs need to engage customers in innovative and assertive ways and to resolve current connection issues. They include:
- A grouping of the provider’s router hardware with its SIP Gateway Service. This permits wholesale clients to provide SMBs with a fast and efficient way of getting into the VoIP game due to the fact that the SIP Gateway Service transmits VoIP traffic between the traditional telephone network and packet-based IP networks
- Dedicated Internet T1 that plans to combine discounted hardware and low-cost services, making it ideal for businesses with more than 30 employees that handle high volumes of email traffic, large file transfers, and web hosting. A Quality of Service option is available for an additional fee, and largely benefits companies that consolidate key business, video and voice applications onto a converged IP network
- Internet Dedicated Ethernet is geared toward heavy data users and includes an Ethernet connection of either 5Mb or 10Mb with Internet access. This service will bundle discounted Ethernet service and a Samsung iBG1000. Also targeted at companies planning on consolidating their key business, video and voice applications onto a converged Internet Protocol network, this Internet Dedicated Ethernet offering serves as a one-vendor solution that the end-user can ultimately leverage to suit their business model
Verizon Global Wholesale’s senior VP of marketing, Quintin Lew, stated in a recent release that by providing offers that contain both hardware and services, “we’re giving our wholesale customers new ways to support their small- and medium-sized business customers in a time when every nickel and every efficiency counts toward success.” Lew added that the provider’s objective continues to be that of supporting its wholesale customers by providing them with tools that allow them to help SMBs succeed.
Want to learn more? Give one of our professional account managers a call today!
A Few Things to Consider Before Selecting a VoIP Provider
Today, countless businesses have either already begun substituted their existing phone service with a Voice over Internet Protocol service, or are considering it. In fact, Voice over IP solutions are becoming so popular with companies of all sizes, that U.S. business penetration rates are predicted to reach nearly 80% in the next two years.
Listed below are two of the most common questions asked by customers who are considering moving to VoIP:
Q: What is required to move to Voice over IP?
A: First you need to decide whether you want to continue using your existing PBX. If you do, you will need a Voice over UP gateway in order to digitize analog calls from your TDM PBX. A crucial facet is the equipment components and design of your Local Area Network, as it will become part of your telecommunications infrastructure in a Voice over IP environment. In addition, you must ensure your equipment, including your router, firewall, and switch, are capable of handling Voice over IP, and are able to give voice traffic priority, and deliver the Quality of Service that a Voice over IP requires
SMBs that do not own a PBX will require either an analog telephone adapter or a Voice over IP device in addition to a router or Voice over IP gateway.
Q: What type of benefits does Voice over IP offer?
A: While initially the appeal of Voice over IP service was toll savings, there are many other reasons. For starters, Voice over IP runs over a business’s data network or Internet connection, which would provide your IT staff easy manage routine tasks, including activating features, adding or deleting users, and establishing voicemail boxes for no additional fee. This can save your business a significant amount of capital, as an outside vendor would typically charge a few hundred dollars an hour for the exact same job.
Another benefit of employing Voice over IP services is the mobility they provide. Exclusive features allow you and your team to work remotely while still being able to access additional features and advanced call handling at dramatically reduced costs. This is because unlike conventional telephony, Voice over IP takes advantage of the thousands of dollars worth of investments already made by a business via making use of the on hand network infrastructure for system installation.
If you are considering employing a Voice over IP service, contact one of our professional account managers today to learn more!
AT&T’s Acquisition of T-Mobile USA Would Nearly Reach the President’s National Broadband Goal
According to the former US Representative of Virginia’s 9th congressional district, Rick Boucher, if AT&T completes its acquisition with T-Mobile USA, it will just about reach the goal that President Barak Obama set of making high-speed wireless services available to at least 98% of Americans in the next 5 years.
Boucher, who previously served the House for 28 years and now heads up the government strategies practice group of the international Sidley Austin law firm and serves as the honorary chairman of the Internet Innovation Alliance, noted that the merger would mark a “very important step [in] achieving universal broadband in the near future.” He also added that by 2017 AT&T would offer broadband to 97% of the US population.
Earlier this year in the President’s State of the Union address, Obama alluded to his proposal that over the next 10 years would essentially free-up 500MHz of wireless spectrum via incentive auctions which would encourage innovation, and construct a nationwide interoperable wireless network for public safety while slashing the national deficit by roughly $10 billion.
The Wireless Innovation and Infrastructure Initiative would provide broadband service to the majority of 26 million Americans that the FCC recently reported to Congress are still going without high-speed Internet service.
Dallas, Texas-based AT&T claims that the acquisition of the fourth-largest wireless provider, T-Mobile USA, would solve its need for additional spectrum. Moreover, AT&T cited its broadband plans as one of the chief public benefits of the $39 billion merger that would allow its fourth-gen LTE network to reach 97% of United States citizens.
Before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, AT&T’s CEO, Randall Stephenson said the company’s broadband plans signify almost “55 million more Americans than our pre-merger plans and millions more than any other provider has committed to service.”
While there have been many parties opposed to the merger – including Sprint, the Department of Justice and several states – there are quite a few high profile, well-known names that are supporting it. Yahoo, Research in Motion, Qualcomm, Oracle, Microsoft, Facebook, Brocade and Avaya were named in a letter sent to Julius Genachowski, FCC Chairman. The letter addressed the fact that wireless networks are under pressure to keep up with the increasing demand for wireless broadband, and states that, “Given the network capacity challenges, policymakers must give meaningful consideration to AT&T’s acquisition of T-Mobile as a means of addressing their near term wireless broadband capacity needs,” the letter states.
Is it Time to Get Our Heads Out of the Clouds Already?
Over the past couple of years, cloud computing has been a hot topic of discussion for providers, agents and customers alike; so much so, in fact, that “the cloud” seems to have eclipsed the technology landscape. With so many businesses looking to reduce their technology expenses and free themselves from on-premise IT encumbrances, companies of all sizes are looking to cloud-based solutions as the future of technology consumption and delivery. However, some critics argue that the cloud computing hype has immensely surpassed the reality.
It’s no secret that there’s cloud hype – it will provide carriers with consistent revenue and predictability, so they push the profitability and simplicity of adoption and implementation on providers, who in turn, sell it to the customer. While it is true that there are many benefits to employing a cloud solution – such as lower IT costs, increased efficiency, and greater resource access to name a few – there is an issue with the fact that often what is promised ends up falling short of performance and functional expectations. As the CEO and President of the 2112 Group, Lawrence M. Walsh put it, “there’s a lot of vaporware in the cloud (ironic imagery, eh?).”
The hype has already generated an ambiance of uncertainty. Companies both large and small are striving to determine their ideal cloud strategy and establish what should remain on-premise and what should go into the cloud. Small and start-up businesses are especially perplexed by the hype due to the fact that they have a decreased risk tolerance for making mistakes.
What’s worse is that almost any carrier or vendor with a service or product that touches the web and gives off a “cloud vibe” dubs it a cloud offering, regardless of its authenticity, in order to stay competitive in the growing market. And they have good reason to; cloud computing has been projected to top $150 billion by 2015.
When it comes down to it, the bubble of cloud perception is believed to be on the brink of bursting. (Tongue twister anyone?)And while there’s no doubt that the over-use of the term “cloud” and the discontentment it brings along with it will manifestly cause a backlash, the question that remains is: how bad will it be?
What do you think? Tell us your opinion of “the cloud” and if you think it can deliver as promised.
Verizon Union Workers’ Acts of Sabotage Could Get Them Fired
What started as an inability to come to an agreement with two unions representing Verizon wireline workers – the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) – over healthcare premiums, pay increases, pensions, sick pay, and retirement benefits has quickly turned sinister. Since the strike began on August 6th, Verizon Communications has reported nearly 100 acts of “sabotage” that have been carried out by striking union workers.
According to Verizon, just prior to the 45,000 union workers going on strike, everything from stolen electrical equipment in Cedar Grove, New Jersey to deliberately cut fiber-optic lines in parts of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Maryland have been documented. Moreover, numerous reports of strikers using intimidation tactics and illegally blocking work entrances for non-union employees has been reported throughout the Northeast – with two separate incidents in Maryland resulting in the arrests of 8 picketers. Recently, Verizon Communications successfully obtained preliminary injunctions in New York, Delaware and Pennsylvania, and were in court to receive two more injunctions for Massachusetts and New Jersey to put a stop to such acts.
Verizon refuses to take these acts lightly, and has stated that they will prosecute any guilty parties to the fullest extent of the law. As an incentive, Verizon is offering up to $50,000 as a reward for any information that results in the arrest and prosecution of any parties responsible for intentionally damaging equipment, and/or assaulting or attempting to cause injury to a Verizon contractor or employee.
Verizon Communications’ Chief Security Officer, Mike Mason, called the acts “reprehensible,” and noted that not only are these acts affecting customers’ services, causing longer waits for service repair as well as longer hold times when calling Verizon service centers, the deliberate attacks on their network have affected law enforcement, paramedics, hospitals, as well as other first responders. Mason also added that Verizon is currently conducting investigations while working alongside local authorities, and will terminate any employee found to be responsible of any such acts.
The CWA and IBEW portray Verizon as the evil step-mother, who feeds and treats her own children (in this case the top five executives, who over the last 4 years received over $250 million) like royalty while starving and over-working her step-children (in this case the union members who do not want to pay a higher healthcare premium or contribute to their own pensions). It is completely understandable that union workers are upset – who wants to tighten their budget in these tough economic times? But when the actions of a handful of frustrated and angry union employees go so far as to allegedly tamper with our own public safety and first responders, something must be done immediately. As far as this writer is concerned they should throw the book at them!
The Verizon Hits Just Keep on Coming
Verizon Communications seems to be encountering a few issues lately, to say the least. First, it was reported in early July that Beth Israel Medical Center had filed a lawsuit against Verizon Communications, accusing them of millions of dollars worth of overbilling that took place in the form of obscenely high long distance rates in addition to charging well over a the contracted amount for services that were either pre-paid for or never even used.
Beth Israel Medical Center claims that they were charged thirty cents per minute for their long distance calls – ten times the contracted three cents per minute rate. Moreover, they were charged well over a quarter of a million dollars for services they never even used, and (here’s the real kicker) around seven MILLION dollars for services Beth Israel Medical Center pre-paid for! Altogether Beth Israel Medical Center is seeking nine million dollars in overbilling fees, and is looking for twenty-five million dollars in punitive damages.
Then, as if that wasn’t bad enough, Verizon Communications took yet another hit with the current Northeastern strike. If you work in the telecommunications industry and have not yet heard about this, then you are more than likely living under a rock. The roughly 45,000 union members of the Communications Workers of America teamed with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and went on strike to protest after unsuccessful contract negotiations with Verizon. The three main issues they could not agree upon involved employee pay increases, healthcare and pensions.
The CWA and IBEW believe that Verizon Communications is suffering from corporate greed as is asking far too much from the wrong employees – citing the fact that over the past four years, its top five executives took home $258 million after the company made $19.5 million in profits.
Verizon, on the other hand, says that they’re simply trying to stay competitive in a market that is slowly dying as more and more customers make the switch from landline to wireless services. Furthermore, despite the fact that Verizon is losing an estimated one to two million dollars for every day the strike continues, they feels the real victims are the customers and non-union employees that are being flown in from states as far away as North Carolina to help fill the gap.
So who’s really to blame? According to a Channel Partners Online Poll titled “Who’s Right?” the majority of voters (46.67%) believed Verizon Communications is, with the unions coming in at 36.67% and a mildly substantial “neither” rounding it out at 16.67%. What do you think?
Small and Medium Business Plan to Increase their IT Budgets
According to CompTIA’s yearly Small and Medium Business Technology Adoptions Trends review, over the next year small and medium businesses will likely increase their overall IT budgets by a little more than 5%.
Out of the businesses that participated in the survey, one-third said they plan a considerable increase of 10% or more in their IT budget. Also noted in the report was that seven out of every 10 small and medium sized businesses plan to increase their spending on technology products and services in an attempt to enhance operational efficiencies, mobility options, and customer interactions.
CompTIA’s technology analysis director, Seth Robinson, attributes the increase in spending to the fact that today’s technology is more affordable and accessible to small and medium businesses than ever before. While he understands many of these companies do not have a profusion of capital and therefore need to make every dollar count, the greater part of them is prepared to purchase new services, “especially solutions that give them capabilities on par with a larger enterprise.”
When it comes to mobile solutions, such as gaining network access, data, and applications via smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc., businesses are choosing to employ services for increased employee productivity as well as improved customer interactions. A sizeable amount – roughly 30% – of small-sized companies (those that employ 1 to 99 staff members) plan to adopt a mobile solution within the next 12 months. The number of medium-sized companies (consisting of 100 to 499 staff members) that plan to put wireless technologies in place in the next year was found to be 33%.
That being said however, it should be noted that reflected in the survey was a concern for security. Robinson also mentioned that another concern is the time supporting these devices, “whether it’s time spent by IT staff or by individual employees attempting to access corporate networks and applications.” One of the ways small and medium-sized businesses are looking to mitigate threats is by purchasing smartphones, tablets and laptops for their staff in an attempt to keep them under corporate control.
As far as cloud-based solutions go, CompTIA’s Small and Medium Business Technology Adoptions Trends review reported that almost one-third (the majority being medium-sized businesses) of the companies surveyed currently employ cloud-based technology, with an additional 35% planning to utilize it in some form within the next 12 months.
How Secure is the Cloud?
When it comes to adopting cloud-based solutions, the paramount obstacle many providers are facing is the customer’s concern for security. Many customers are wary of provider’s security policies, procedures, and infrastructure (or lack thereof) set in place to sufficiently protect data and counter security incidents – and rightfully so.
While it’s true that just like any other solution, cloud-based environments have a number of vulnerable points and security issues (hey, perfect security is a practical impossibility), a business’s actual security risk is an issue of targeting the path of least resistance. Unfortunately, that is often the end-user in cloud computing situations. But don’t fret, if your business is heading toward employing a cloud-based solution there are steps you can take as an end-user to better secure your business’s important and sensitive information.
Cost efficiency and scalability aside, one of the most beautiful aspects of cloud-based solutions is that they allow you to access your company’s information and software – anytime, anywhere. As it turns out, this can also be the cause of a company’s information being compromised. Here’s why:
Access to the cloud is granted via endpoints, such as a desktop or laptop computer. With the introduction of smartphones and tablet computers and all of their amazing capabilities, thieves have now added two more targets to their list of favorites. Unfortunately, users often cache their usernames, passwords and credentials for easier access; but if their smartphone, laptop, or tablet is stolen, the thief will then have access as well. Moreover, the amount of malware targeted at smartphones seems to be ever-increasing as a growing number of users store more and more sensitive information on them.
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link – the same goes for a business with ubiquitous end-points, where a main security risk could literally be resting in their own palms. Any and all security measures are rendered worthless by a compromised endpoint if a hacker can successfully seize an end user’s credentials.
Subsequent to selecting a reliable cloud-based solution provider that has both experience and proven security measures in place, every end-user should have an improved understanding in regards to potential risks and the level of security needed to successfully employ a secure cloud service. Remember this: plan for the worst and hope for the best. That way, should anything arise you will have already put the proper steps in place in order to come out on top!
SIP Trunking
In the realm of telecommunications, SIP trunking has become one of the most talked about and fastest moving elements of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) due to the large number of benefits it offers. SIP trunking is provides a cutting-edge working environment by acting as a platform for delivering unified communications, offers centralization of lines into a business, cost-efficient calling as well as fast failover/recovery.
Unfortunately however, enterprise customers, service providers and manufacturers are beginning to learn that it is not the easiest service to implement. For starters, in regards to implementation, SIP trunks must be as clean as existing analog and digital installations. Many discover issues after hasty installations that lack careful thought for continuing service management and quality of service. Simply setting up the system, connecting the SIP trunks, and testing for dial tone is not enough. It is imperative to get the correct documentation for configuration of the PBX and session border controller/edge device in order to get SIP trunks to register and work. Moreover, without planning, testing, and monitoring the installation, you risk your SIP trunks dropping and reconnecting simultaneously, dropped calls, and poor quality. This leads to angry customers looking for answers, and their frustrations are increased when they find their service provider and installation companies failing to take ownership for the problem and instead they blame each other.
As a customer, it is important to know that there are ways to overcome these headaches prior to installation. Ask for recommendations. Do some research; look at case studies from the manufacturers and service providers – ask them about their support team, experience with installations, their solutions to any problems that have arisen, Service Level Agreements, conforming to network standards and interoperability testing. The more experience and knowledge they have, the better your chances are of finding the best provider and solution for your unique needs.
When you decide upon your solution and provider, it is important to test both in various scenarios subsequent to installation. Test your new SIP trunks in multiple call situations, such as conferencing, call transfers, etc. Test your provider’s support team at different hours of different days (for example, if you call on a Friday at 5:00pm) to gauge their knowledge level and response time.
Don’t just take my word for it – for more information on SIP trunking and how it can benefit your business give one of our professional account managers a call today!
XO Claims Level 3/Global Crossing Acquisition Will Create a ‘Global Colossus’
Level 3 Communications is one of the world’s six Tier 1 Internet operators. Once dubbed “the best funded start-up in history,” Level 3 Communications was founded on the idea that reliable, scalable and cost-effective networks were the future of the communications business.
Global Crossing currently serves over 700 Internet service providers, mobile operators, and carriers, as well as 40% of Fortune 500 companies. Whether you require data, voice, or multimedia solutions – including audio, video and web conferencing – Global Crossing has the technology and dedicated professionals to meet your needs.
Back in April, Level 3 revealed an agreement to purchase Global Crossing in a $3 billion deal that would produce a communications company with pro forma combined 2010 revenues of more than $6 billion. The acquisition would also give rise to a company with connections to over 70 countries and ownership in over 50 countries. According to Level 3, the merger would allow Level 3 to better serve governments, enterprises, carriers and content providers within Europe as well as Latin and North America.
According to the FCC, XO Communications believes that the merger between the two top communications companies will generate a “’global colossus’ that will dominate the market, leading to significantly higher prices and decreased service quality and innovation for other IBPs and their customers.” XO believes that the acquisition is not in the public’s interest, and hopes that the Federal Communications Commission will stop the transaction.
In the meantime, Global Crossing has announced that the United States DOJ has asked for more information from Level 3 and Global Crossing in relation to the possible acquisition. According to Global Crossing, under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, the US DOJ has issued a “second request” for additional information.
XO’s concerns that merging two of the leading Internet backbone providers will create a “global colossus” are not going unheard. In another filing with the Federal Communications Commission, the DOJ stated that they, along with the FBI and the DHS are presently looking into the issue “for any national security, law enforcement, and public safety issues,” and have asked the FCC to defer any action until the agencies can complete their findings and advise the FCC of the appropriate action to take.
Both Global Crossing and Level 3 previously announced that the acquisition should be completed by year’s end, and as of last Tuesday, did not expect any changes in the schedule.
Business Solutions: An Overview of Data and Internet Services
If you want to have a fast, reliable and dedicated data and internet service provider, there are several important features to look into prior to signing with a particular provider to ensure that you find the best option to address your business’s needs. For example, there are multiple types of Internet connections, such as traditional dial-up, DSL (digital subscriber line), DIA, T1 and T3 service to name a few.
Start by assessing your business’s bandwidth needs; if you are heavily involved in e-commerce, research, manage your own server, or if you employ a large number of staff, your heavy bandwidth consumption should be well-supported by a dedicated Internet connection that can increase bandwidth when necessary. Today, providers offer burstable solutions with access speeds that can reach up to 10,000 Mbps.
Secondly, if your business handles a heavy flow of important or confidential data that is accessible to multiple users, it is essential that you select a service or services that can provide a high level of security. Thankfully, most providers on the market today offer comprehensive security solutions that cover everything from your email and web browsing to audio, video, and web conferences.
Another important aspect to remember (and a deal-breaker for many small and start-up businesses) is affordability. The good news is that you shouldn’t let the “big dogs” scare you away. Typically customers associate big name brands with big prices, but thankfully that is not always the case. Often large, nationwide or worldwide companies offer the most competitive pricing, with the added bonus of things like Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with guaranteed uptime and even compensation for downtime.
Businesses with multiple locations or branch offices often choose to employ multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) solutions as a cost-efficient and reliable way to stay connected. If you run your business in different parts of the world, a Private Line service is more practical when it comes to eliminating infrastructure costs. Our unique and long-standing partnerships with the industry’s top providers allow us to provide flexible bandwidth and better solutions for complicated network connectivity problems.
On the other hand, you might prefer an Ethernet Solution. Considered as the most well-known and inexpensive computer networking technology for site backbone in a single building, Ethernet allows sharing of data and resources among different machines including your fax, printer and scanner.
There are so many solutions on the market today that it’s easy to get confused as to which one would work best for you and your business. We encourage you to browse through T1Everywhere.com to learn more about these services, or if you prefer, give one of our professional account managers a call. We will talk you through it and can help determine the ideal solution for your unique needs.
Here at T1Everywhere.com we have teamed up the industry’s best service providers to equip your business with reliable and cost-efficient communication facilities. Our goal is to help your business acquire the best solution.
Unified Communications? What’s That?
While there is multiple definitions of what Unified Communications is depending upon who you ask, the industry definition is as follows:
Unified Communications is the integration of communication services, including unified messaging (such as e-mail, fax, SMS or short message service, and integrated voicemail) with real-time communication services like Internet Protocol telephony, instant messaging, call and speech control, presence information, and video conferencing. Unified Communications is not simply one product, but a collection of products that offers a uniform unified user interface and user experience across multiple media types and devices.
Still confused? Simply put, Unified Communications – at its most elementary level – occurs every time one of your communications tools becomes cognizant of another of your communications tools. For example, if your voicemail system notifies you via email with an attached file of the message, that is considered Unified Communications. If your phone’s included directory lets you peruse to find a person’s telephone number that is also Unified Communications.
To break it down even further, let’s establish our own vocabulary for this article:
- For starters, let’s just say that anything that does the work of a telephone (i.e. speaking with another in real-time using your voice) is called “telephony.” Many would like to limit this to Internet Protocol telephony or Voice over Internet Protocol, but that is unnecessary
- Secondly, we’ll call everything involving multimedia, image, text, or voice messaging transmission between parties that is not in real time (including texting, voicemail, fax, and email) “messaging”
- Thirdly, we’ll call everything involving multiple party communications in real-time, such as web, video and audio conferencing “conferencing and collaboration”
- And finally, let’s call that which allows you to see who is accessible or available “presence”
Now that we have established our vocabulary, we can define Unified Communications as telephony, united with messaging, conferencing and collaboration, and enabled by presence. Simple as that!
Unified Communications can be acquired in one swoop, or one piece at a time; either way, it is an essential launch pad to the next telecom buzz-word knows as CEPB, or Communications Enabled Business Practices.” There you have it! When it’s broken down to its simplest form, Unified Communications is much easier to understand.
Additional Resources
To find out more about Unified Communications, and Unified Communications providers, contact one of our professional account managers today! We can also answer any questions you might have, so give us a call!
Tips and Tricks to Increase your Meeting Productivity
When done correctly, audio conference calls and web conference calls can save your business huge amounts of time and money associated with regular business travel. Our team here at T1Everywhere has put together a list of tips and tricks to use the next time you decide to hold a conference call to ensure your meetings are as effective as possible.
Prior to your meeting consider running a few mock conference calls. This will accomplish a few things: help make sure that you have the proper time allotted to cover your material, that you can iron out any kinks that might arise, and allow you to familiarize yourself with your audio conference and/or web conference call features; (that last part is key when trying to appear professional to customers and prospective clients).
Secondly, set a reasonable time for your conference call to take place. Generally speaking, on an audio conference call or web conference call passes the one hour mark, participants begin to lose interest and tune out. Keeping your audience engaged in your meeting is essential to reaching your full conference call potential, and will ensure you receive the greatest return on your conferencing services investment.
In addition to keeping your attendees engaged, it is equally important to keep them actively participating in your discussions. Encourage dialogue. Ask questions directed at specific participants – chances are you’re more likely to get a response than if you ask your entire audience, who will probably sit silent waiting for someone else to answer. If you’re conducting a web conference you have the benefit of question and answer sessions, polling, and other robust features that offer instant feedback. However, be sure to use your features wisely, too much of a good thing – such as PowerPoint slides – can also send your audience into a zombie like state. (Side note: if you have attendees that regularly attend your meeting but fail to participate chances are they are dead weight and probably don’t need to be there in the first place).
Collaboration is another crucial part of running a successful and productive conference call. If you’re hosting a web conference, make sure your webcam is turned on and your participants have a clear shot of you. It’s hard to connect with someone when you’re talking to a telephone or computer screen; thankfully web conference calls allow you to mirror face-to-face interaction via webcam.
Follow these tips and tricks and you’ll be well on your way to your most productive meetings yet! See anything we missed? Please let us know!
Global Crossing Quadruples Capacity on Wavelengths
A few months before their multi-billion dollar merger with Level 3 Communications, Global Crossing quadrupled the maximum capacity of its wavelength service to an impressive 40 GB per second. Until recently, the New Jersey based company served as a network services operator that supported additional enterprises, government organizations and carriers alike. Global Crossing implemented the upgrade on terrestrial routes in the United States, Canada, and Europe due to the increasing demand for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), video on demand (VOD), data virtualization, and additional applications that consume large amounts of bandwidth.
Wavelengths are similar to private lines in the fact that they enable companies of any size to transport information from one location to another; however, while Global Crossing’s private lines are protected by backup routes in the event of a circuit going down, wavelengths are not protected. Simply put, wavelength customers could lose service on their circuit if an issue with the network, such as a cut in the fiber, arises.
To combat this problem and offer protection for wavelength circuits in the event that one goes down, Global Crossing is offering a “diversity planning service” that provides customers the choice to assign alternate, redundant routes for wavelength circuits. These alternative circuits can either be purchased through Global Crossing or another communications provider.
Global Crossing’s director of transport product management, Mark Manioci, has stated that they’re not stopping there, “The market is going to be going to 100 gigabits shortly… you have to wait for the demand to catch up with the technology.” Manioci has also said that this service will be available at “edge” sites in multiple metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, and New York where Global Crossing is connected to neutral colocation facilities as well as at “core” sites within the carrier’s POPs (points of presence).
According to a press release, Global Crossing announced that SLAs (service level agreements) that provide a credit – or in certain instances – will allow a client to cancel the circuit if the requirements are not met will be offered for “propagation delay” on wavelengths. Measured in milliseconds, propagation delay comprises the “round trip time” needed for a signal to “travel the distance between two Global Crossing POPs.”
Additional Resources
To find out how Global Crossing (now Level 3 Communications) services can help improve your business give one of our professional account managers a call today!