Then in February, the company announced several planned strategic investments, including a $4 billion network rejuvenation. However, while that is all great news for T-Mobile customers, it seems as though the provider’s employees aren’t so lucky.

Just a few months after Humm’s announcement, T-Mobile disclosed plans to reduce its number of call centers from 24 to 17, in an attempt to keep up with the competitors. The 7 centers that are scheduled to be shut down are located in: Thornton, Colorado, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Brownsville and Frisco, Texas, Lenexa, Kansas, Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Redmond, Oregon. The consolidation will cost almost 2,000 workers their jobs, and while he was not looking forward to the cuts, Humm stated “they are necessary to realize efficiency in order to invest for growth.”

For those workers who did get the axe, the provider is offering outplacement support, severance pay, and two months of continued health coverage for those who elect COBRA benefits. T-Mobile also plans on using the 7 call centers it plans to shut down as career centers that will offer access to job search tools, training and technologies as well as personal career coaches.

Flash forward to this week, and T-Mobile announced it is planning to make even more cuts. According to The Wall Street Journal, the provider’s second round of layoffs will cost nearly 1,000 employees their jobs. T-Mobile asserts that it is streamlining operations and restructuring its organization in an effort to “make critical decisions better and faster.” The company went on to say that by optimizing operations and reducing its cost structure, “T-Mobile will be able to invest in areas where we anticipate the strongest return.”

About T-Mobile USA

Headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, T-Mobile USA is the nation’s fourth largest wireless operator. T-Mobile USA is a national provider of wireless voice, messaging, and data services capable of reaching over 293 million Americans.

XO Communication’s chief marketing officer, Don MacNeil, explained that while XO and its competitors offer the same technologies, the provider believes it will differentiate itself from the pack by offering a more customer-focused experience. According to MacNeil, XO is “great at technology, but what really drives XO is that our employees are passionate about providing great customer experience.”

From the time that XO first launched almost 12 years ago, much has changed – and not just within the company. While MacNeil addressed the new logo and change from being a provider that is “focused on technology to a brand focused on the customer experience,” he also noted the transform of XO’s customer base and their needs as well as the evolution of available technology.

At the start of this year, XO Communications commenced its three year strategic plan that involved streamlining its product offering. XO’s executive VP of sales and marketing, Ernie Ortega, stated that the provider’s plans to eliminate the majority of TDM services began with the shutdown of all wholesale long distance services in October of last year; XO also plans to shore up its communication service delivery with improved processes and tools.

In addition, XO is working on taking a page from its wholesale business, and is in the midst of dealing with the recognized issues with the quote-to-provisioning processes, and is working on eliminating the red tape and investing in automation. According to Ortega, the approach will be threefold, and includes new quoting tools, greater efficiencies via specialized product types, and improved CLEC self-service tools.

About XO Communications

XO Communications is one of the nation’s largest communications service providers.

Additional Information

We would like to hear your thoughts on XO Communications’ move toward establishing a “customer first” strategy. Do you think putting emphasis on customer service over technology is the right way to go? Send us a comment!

And if you’re interested in finding the ideal Internet T1, Bonded Internet T1, DSL, Ethernet, MPLS, Internet T3, Internet DS3, Voice T1, Voice PRI, Integrated access, Long Distance T1, or VoIP service for your business, give one of our professional account managers a call today or visit us at T1Evereywhere.com for an instant, no obligation quote.

One of the very important – but often overlooked – ways you and your business can go green is to donate or recycle your old computers, cell phones, and other electronics. Let’s face it; if every business kept all of the computers they purchased over the past ten years, there would not be any room left for its employees. This is because computers, both personal and office-owned, tend to fizzle and die with their warranties. While this passing is predictable, the discarding of their shells and inner workings provides a dilemma for many owners.

Sadly, you cannot throw them out to sea or burn them and scatter the ashes over the Grand Canyon because they are full of mercury and other toxic chemicals, carcinogens and heavy metals that will, ultimately, seep into the ground and pollute water sources.

To find out more about how computers are recycled, check out this Earth Day video:

No doubt you’ll be amazed at not only how the materials are collected, but also the countless ways in which they can be reused – for everything from additional electronic devices to dental crowns! If you are interested in setting up an electronics recycling and hazardous collection event in your area, contact your local government for more information.

Additional Information

This year, folks in the Toronto area have a chance to turn their old computers into trees. No, it’s not a magic act – it’s a chance to dispose of your unwanted computer equipment in an environmentally sensitive and secure way (all information present on systems will be securely destroyed). Between April 16th and April 22nd, for every major item you recycle with Computation, they will plant a tree on your behalf via a $1 donation to Trees Canada.

Established in 1992, Tree Canada is a non-profit, charitable organization that provides financial support, resources, technical assistance, and education through working partnerships in order to encourage Canadians to plant and care for trees in rural and urban areas.

While the event is free of charge to the general public, those with large quantities, businesses and anyone with asset management or pick-up requirements should contact Computation prior to the event to discuss possible options.

The two providers also will reportedly become agents, allowing both Cox Communications and Verizon Wireless to vend each other’s commercial and residential services and products via their respective sales channels. Moreover, Cox Communications foresees entering into an agreement with the joint innovation technology venture created by Bright House Networks, Time Warner Cable, Comcast and Verizon Wireless to better integrate wireless and wireline services and products.

President of Cox Communications, Patrick Esser, stated that he and his company are looking forward to the countless benefits this agreement will bring. Esser explained that, the new agreements allow Cox to provide its clients with “key enablers to mobility, such as access to Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network and iconic wireless devices.”

About Verizon Wireless

Headquartered in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, Verizon Wireless is a leader in wireless voice and data services. With over 2,000 company-operated stores and kiosks and nearly 82,000 nationwide employees, Verizon Wireless boasts 108 million total connections, including more than 92 million retail customers and 16.5 million wholesale and other connections.

Verizon Wireless also owns and operates the nation’s largest, most reliable 3G network, and the largest 4G LTE network that is expected to cover more than 260 million customers in 400 markets across the U.S. by the end of this year.

Visit www.VerizonWireless.com for more information.

About Cox Communications

Cox Communications is the third-largest cable entertainment and broadband services provider in the U.S. Best known for pioneering the well-known Internet, TV and phone service bundle, Cox Communications’ 22,000+ employees service more than 6 million customers nationwide.

In J.S. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Major Provider Business Telecommunications Study, Cox Communications ranked first for home-based businesses, and second for small and mid-sized business data service providers. In addition to customer care leadership, Cox is also widely lauded for its commitment to diversity and inclusion and overall corporate strategy.

Cox Communications, Inc. is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. For more information, please visit http://ww2.cox.com/

As a business owner, finding a reliable, high-quality, and cost-efficient service is a top priority, and hosted VoIP offers exactly that. John Putnam, an industry insider, recently told Small Business that, with hosted VoIP, “the actual box you need to make your phones work, the PBX (News – Alert), Private Branch Exchange, is shared with a bunch of other companies.” This means the only telephony equipment that is required to reside in your office is the actual phones themselves.

What’s more is that with a hosted VoIP system, you will see significant savings, and you don’t have to worry about network infrastructure issues, maintenance, software upgrades, or rolling out the newest features, because it’s all taken care of for you.

Moreover, as today’s workforce continues to become more mobile, a hosted VoIP system allows you and your team to conduct business while out on location – regardless of wherever that may be.

By routing voice calls over the Internet, hosted VoIP is much more cost-efficient and flexible than a traditional phone line, and allows you and your employees to communicate and work with each other from anywhere. According to IT veteran Alex Desberg, the key to getting the best ROI is to choose your VoIP system wisely, take the time to train your employees, and know where to go in the event that an issue arises; basically, don’t skimp on the basics. Desberg also adds that you should “think of hosted VoIP as freedom,” – freedom from being weighed down by landlines.

Additional Information

Whether you end up implementing a hosted VoIP solution or not, at the very least you should consider it. If you are still on the fence as to whether a VoIP or hosted VoIP solution is right for your business, give one of our account managers a call today. Our team is well versed in all of today’s top communications solutions and we can walk you through it all to help you find the ideal solution for your business.

Hosted VoIP Solution

Image Source: twobee / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Not long ago, Telarus Inc. announced it was moving its corporate office to Sandy, Utah’s Centennial Plaza Tower. The move has been in the works for some time now; it took over one year for the executive team to find the ideal location – and even more time after that to tear down and then custom build the space for large-scale telecommunications management per Telarus’ exact specifications. The master agency’s new 6,000 sq. ft. office space boasts 10 executive offices, a break room, software development room, idea room, board room, agent training room and a support operations center (SOC) equipped with LCD screens.

Patrick Oborn, Co-founder of Telarus noted that, when sitting down with the architects, his team knew that brainstorming, accounting, software development, agent training and sales support were key company areas that would require their own dedicated spaces. Oborn has been thrilled with the results, reporting that, “Since making the move, we have seen a spike in productivity, morale, and most of all, in agents coming to spend time with us in our new headquarters

New Deal with Cbeyond

Around the same time Telarus moved into its new headquarter location, the master agency also signed an agreement with Cbeyond, a provider of communications and IT services to small business throughout the United States that serves over 60,000 small business customers. To prepare for the launch, Cbeyond’s solutions, including local and long-distance voice services, data T1, integrated T1, bonded T1, and more were added into Telarus’ real-time online quoting system GeoQuote, which is used by agents to research price and availability.

The new deal is expected to help boost the master agency’s move into cloud services, and enables Telarus agents to sell Cbeyond’s business data, voice, and cloud-based managed services to SMBs. Telarus’ VP of sales, Robert Butler, added that, “with the help of Cbeyond’s renowned training system, we look forward to education our partners and helping them expand their sales capabilities into new and exciting areas of growth.”

New Deal with EarthLink

Shortly after Telarus signed a new deal with Cbeyond, the master agency announced it had joined Telecom Consulting Group, World Telecom Group, X4 Solutions and Telephony Partners and signed EarthLink Business’ new nationwide Channel Partner agreement. The updated agreement enables Telarus agents to sell all EarthLink Business managed, data and voice services nationwide.

In a press statement, Adam Edwards, President of Telarus stated, “The addition of the EarthLink Business southeastern network, which we previously could not source, combined with the rollout of the new EarthLink Complete nationwide voice and data IP service and its new managed services platform, is a welcome addition to our portfolio.”

T1 Internet Services

What a difference an anchor makes

When a ship lowered its anchor off the coast of Mombasa, Kenya earlier this week, it unknowingly severed
the t1 Internet access to over a handful of East African countries, including Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and South Sudan’s capital of Juba.

The Indian Ocean East Africa Marine Systems (TEAMS) cable was cut after the ship dropped its anchor in an area that is considered restricted due to the presence of sea cabling. Created as an alternative to the South Africa-owned East African Submarine Cable System (EASSy), the TEAMS cable is owned by the Kenyan government, in conjunction with Etisalat, an Emirati company. The Wall Street Journal reported that the TEAMS cable, which connects East Africa to the United Arab Emirates, carried transmitted traffic from a previous severing of three other cables located in the Red Sea.

According to Noel Mwakugu, the BBC’s Nairobi correspondent, during the three weeks that the TEAMS cable is being repaired, the six East African countries will be forced to function at a reduced speed that will impede the usual flow by approximately 20%.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s suffered substantial losses. The country’s permanent secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Information, Bitenge Ndemo, asserted that, while they do not yet know the total cost, it will likely be in the millions given that both “TEAMS and EASSy carry almost 70 percent of the traffic from the East African Region.” Ndemo added that, by his own estimations, Kenya could lose as much as $500 million by the time the repairs are finished.

While the outage itself is unfortunate, it is made even more so at a time where the recent availability of reliable, high-speed broadband connections have allowed Kenya – specifically its capital of Nairobi – to assume a leading role in both technological innovation and entrepreneurship. Laid in 2009, the underwater fiber-optic cables have sparked the country’s high-tech industry, and been the driving force behind the recent near doubled number of Internet users in Kenya

As a result of the cut, network speeds have slowed significantly, affecting the quality of some service providers. Luckily however, of the 3 East African cable connections, one was left untouched. Kenya’s ITC Board CEO, Paul Kukubo, stated “we are lucky to have this redundancy on our undersea cables.”
The outage could affect growing foreign investment.

Additional Information

For more information on telecommunications services available in your area, give us a call today!

High Speed Internet Connections

Providing an on-site telephone number is often misconstrued. For starters, carriers do not ask for an on-site phone number because they want to contact the client, but so they can determine which Central Office (CO) should be used to service them, and/or to verify the location address. Analog POTS (which stands for Plain Old Telephone Service) line or a fax number is preferred, so they can obtain a Local Exchange Carrier-issued number for authentication.

If they do need to contact the client, the carrier will call the person who was designated as the on-site contact on the order. This can be anyone – not just the IT guy or gal – who works from that site that can provide access (unlock doors, gates, etc.) and show the dispatched technician where the circuit should be installed. Whether it’s the secretary, intern, maintenance person, or property-owner, it is imperative that the on-site contact has access and is available.

Last but not least, the technical stuff. This covers a multitude of things, including what product it is that you want, how it should be configured, if any numbers are porting, what the protocols should be, if there are faxes – the list goes on. This is one of the most complex aspects of the ordering process, so we will go into more detail in a future post; but it is important to know that if you do not know this information you will need to recruit either the current carrier or the equipment vendor to collect it.

There you have it – the six key pieces of information required to facilitate your t1 service order through your carrier’s system. As we said before, every carrier will differ in the paperwork needed to service your order, but the basic information is generally the same. Good luck and happy ordering!

T1 Service

Image Source: jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In this post, we continue our list with four more steps:

• Sixth step : Determine whether or not you require an IP phone with routing capabilities. If your business already has a Voice Local Area Network (LAN) set up, you will do fine with an IP phone that has a single RJ45 Ethernet port. However, a large number of today’s offices have a single Ethernet run to each computer, which would require both your computer and IP phone to share a single Ethernet connection. This would require you to have an IP phone with dual RJ45 Ethernet ports.

• Seventh step : Decide whether or not you will be using Power over Ethernet (PoE). PoE is a technology for wired Ethernet LANs that permits the electrical current necessary for the operation of each device to be carried by the data cables rather than by power cords. PoE reduces the number of wires that need to be strung to install your network, which results in greater installation flexibility, simplified maintenance, less downtime and less cost than traditional wiring. If you plan on using PoE, you will need an IP phone that supports it.

• Eighth step : Establish what codec and protocol your IP PBX/service provider supports. The majority of today’s IP phones support all of the major voice codec’s and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), however this isn’t the case for all phones – and you don’t want to get stuck with an IP phone that is incompatible with your voice service or phone system.

• Ninth step : Determine your budget. Today’s market is flooded with hundreds of IP phones, and prices range anywhere from $50 to more than $500 each. But while price is a major factor for many businesses when choosing an IP phone, it should not be the only one. Sure, selecting the least expensive IP phone might save you in up-front costs, but if it is not capable of achieving exactly what your business needs, you’re likely going to pay much more over the life of your service.

Additional Information

If you’d like to find out more about IP phones and how they can enhance your business, give us a call today

IP Phone

Image Source: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Most customers might be surprised to learn that order rejects are a common delay in the order process. And while sometimes the rejection appears arbitrary, there is a reason each piece of information you are asked to provide is needed.

Your order will have to first go through the carrier’s system and then the LEC’s (Local Exchange Carrier’s) system before installation and activation. So what is it that the carriers need to facilitate your order through their systems? Well, each carrier requires different paperwork; however the basic information is generally the same:

• Business Name
• Location where the service will be installed
• The DMARC, or Demarcation Point
• On-site Contact
• On-site Phone Number
• The technical bits and pieces

In most cases, your company’s name is the easiest piece of the puzzle. Carriers use your company name to verify a number of things, including your company’s current credit status and whether there is a potential for bad credit to develop, as in the case with newer companies. However, this can be complicated if you are an international company with headquarters outside of the United States and are opening new smaller companies with little or no established credit. If your company falls under this category, you can help avoid any billing department stalls by providing your parent company’s name along with the registered legal U.S. name.

The location where the service will be installed also seems reasonably simple, but issues can arise if you plan on occupying a new suite in an existing building or if the location is under construction. So, while you might think submitting your order early would equate to a shorter wait period, carriers are unable to place orders with the LEC if the due date is over 2 – 3 months out.

Another important piece of information is your demarcation (DMARC) point. This is the physical location wherein your service will be installed. The more detailed and precise you are the better. In order to keep things moving forward, it’s routine practice for an agent to note the demarcation point as being the first floor phone room until you are able to provide the true position. However, by doing this you run the risk that the circuit will be delivered to that exact location, in which case you will have to pay an additional fee to have it extended to your server closet. Be sure to discuss with your IT staff/agent the proper location for your circuit; a little groundwork up-front can save you from a big headache later on.

Telecommunication Services

Image Source: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Today’s market is flooded with hundreds of IP phones, making it extremely difficult to find the best one for your specific needs – but have no fear! We have compiled a list of steps that will help determine exactly what you need to find the ideal IP phone for you.

• First step: Ascertain what VoIP service provider or phone system you currently use. Contrary to what some IP phone retailers might tell you, not all IP phones are compatible with all systems and services. Your incumbent service provider pr phone system vendor should also be able to provide you with a list of compatible IP phones.
• Second step: Establish who will be using your IP phone(s). Each user will have a different set of requirements depending upon their job. For example, while a receptionist may only be concerned about the total number of calls that can be dealt with simultaneously, an executive might be interested in having all of the latest and greatest features and add-ons.
• Third step: Determine what functionality and features each user will require. The majority of users will need basic features, such as call transfer, call waiting, etc. More advanced features include sidecar capability for additional extensions, a large display and speakerphone. Cisco’s Unified IP Phones for example, focus on voice quality, vibrant color displays and other user experience-centric features, and are targeted to meet the needs of a broad range of users.
• Fourth step: Verify how often each IP phone will be used. In the IP phone world, you often get what you pay for in many respects – quality included. If your users are on the phone daily, it would be wise to invest in a set of high-quality IP phone, as they will last longer and offer enhanced call quality.
• Fifth step: Find out how the number of incoming calls each user will entertain at a time. That number will influence the amount of line appearances each user’s IP phone should have. Typically, receptionists, office administrators and operators will require over 10 line appearances, while the average worker will only need 3 to 5.

But that’s not all; in our next post we will continue our list of steps to help you find the ideal IP phone for your needs – stay tuned!

VoIP Services

As the second fastest, non-optical connection offered in North America, T3 lines are frequently installed as a major networking artery for organizations with high-volume network traffic, such as:

• Universities
• Large enterprises
• Software development corporations
• Video conference and call centers
• Research labs
• Internet service providers

A T3 line is a great solution for those who demand more than a standard T1 line offers. Available in both full and fractional increments, Internet T3 service is the ideal choice for anyone requiring large-scale bandwidth on an as-needed basis, supporting Web hosting, or hosting high-traffic websites. What’s more is that they ordinarily incorporate Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that guarantee high-quality performance and up to 99.999% uptime.

In addition, T-line connections can be used to integrate multiple services, including both voice and data. For example, integrated T1 and T3 lines are regularly employed for dedicated Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service, replacing the standard telephone company. This allows you to allocate a specific number channels to data, and the rest to voice calls, providing you with potentially significant cost-savings and superior call quality.

When it comes to pricing, a T-line connection is comprised of two monthly charges: the port and the local loop. The local loop charge is the cost the local incumbent charges to transport the signal from your Central Office (CO) to the Point-of-Presence (POP) of the provider. The port charge is the fee to access the Internet or telephone network through the carrier’s network. Generally, the loop price is based on geography – the father the CO and POP, the higher the loop costs – while the port price is based upon access speed and the length of your contract. With that said, almost every provider prices loops differently, so it would be in your best interest to price a T1 or T3 line with multiple providers.

Additional Information: Want to learn more? Give us a call today!

Internet T3 line

In order to calculate how soon you will see a Return On your Investment (ROI), all you need to do is determine the total monthly cost savings you will receive by making the switch to VoIP, and then divide that number by your total upfront costs. This will reveal how many months it will take for your business to break-even on your upfront investment.

Hosted or on-premise?

The biggest factor in determining whether a hosted or an on-premise VoIP solution would work best is the size of your company. If you employ less than 30 people and/or have no desire to handle a phone system, then a hosted VoIP service is something you should consider. With hosted VoIP, your service provider hosts your phone system for you. For companies that employ 30 or more staff members, an on-premise VoIP service is likely going to give you the best return on your investment.

How strong is your in-house IT team?

While VoIP systems are a great deal easier to use and maintain when compared to the alternatives, having a qualified employee available to manage the system is crucial to keeping your services running smoothly in the event of an unforeseen issue. Unfortunately, this means that your cousin, neighbor, (or fill in the blank with whoever it is you know that can jailbreak an iPhone or hack into a WiFi network) might not always fit the bill. If that’s the case, our team can help you find a qualified technician.

What about a backup plan?

Believe it or not, many businesses actually overlook setting up a back-up plan in advance; but rest assured those are the same folks that are kicking themselves in the back-side as soon as their service goes down due to the weather or any other number of issues. Adding building redundancy and power protection into your VoIP service is a wise idea – especially since VoIP utilized the Internet as well as your network to transport calls.

What is your budget?

Last, but certainly not least, do you know how much you are able to spend on deploying your business’s VoIP solution? Pricing for today’s business-class VoIP solutions varies greatly due to the number of providers and ways that it is able to be deployed, especially when dealing with SMBs, allowing you to decide whether you want to pay for everything in advance, split it up into monthly fees, or make a down-payment and pay the rest off monthly.

Does your Local Area Network (LAN) support VoIP calls?

You cannot realize the full potential of a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport (now dubbed the world’s fastest car) if you only drive it on a gravel road. When working with VoIP service, think of your service as a car and your network as the road. In order for you to make the most of your VoIP service it is imperative that you have a well-paved road devoid of congestion. If your business requires the frequent sending/receiving of large files or depends heavily on the Internet, then you should want to consider employing a network specifically for voice services. This might sound costly; however with provider’s constantly lowering prices to stay competitive, the minor cost investment is likely worth the ability to ensure a superior Quality of Service (QoS) level for your voice service.

Which provider should you choose?

In today’s market there are a host of VoIP providers that offer all shapes, sizes and types of VoIP services. As a result, it is important to look into what they provide as far as Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and service availability/up-time. Another good idea is to look for customer recommendations or company reviews.

How much bandwidth do you have?

While rare, there is the possibility that you can experience an issue with your VoIP service. The majority of the time, issues generally stem from the “last mile” of Internet service – particularly when dealing with small or medium-sized businesses. This is because SMBs often overlook the fact that, in order to account for the additional traffic that will be sent/received, they will need a greater amount of bandwidth.

Does your business make more local or long distance calls?

When it comes to VoIP, companies that conduct more long distance calls stand to see a greater cost savings than those that make more local calls.

What about the PSTN?

As mentioned in the previous answer, some companies will benefit more from employing a VoIP solution than others who could be better off conducting calls over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). That being said, it is a best practice for all companies to retain at least one PSTN line as a back-up in the event that your network goes down.

Per minute rate or a flat monthly fee?

The majority of VoIP providers will let you choose between paying a set, per minute rate or a flat, monthly fee. Take a look at the volume of calls your company makes to determine which option would be best for your business.

In addition to extending its own professional services portfolio, the provider also packaged services such as managed services, Ethernet services; Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) based Virtual Private Network (VPN) services, and Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) services. Level 3’s new Wide Area Networking solution includes numerous components that provide an integrated approach to deciphering complicated network management, and includes:

• A comprehensive portfolio of the provider’s data solutions
• WAN optimization for enhanced visibility into app performance
• Firewalls that are network based to speed up cloud app access
• Varying levels of managed solutions for customer equipment
• Superior WAN assessment and design that includes professional services

According to Level 3, with the increasing adoption of cloud applications, mobility and virtualization, companies are progressively struggling with complicated networks, and as a result are calling for complete solutions that are able to accelerate and prioritize vital applications as well as enhance their performance.

Then in early October, Level 3 completed its acquisition of IP solutions provider Global Crossing under a merger that execs said improves the breadth of its worldwide communications business and financial position. You can read more about that here – http://www.easyt1.net/blog/level-3-global-crossing-merger-is-a-done-deal

At the end of October, Level 3 Communication’s president and COO, Jeff Story, along with VP and CFO, Sunit Patel rang the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange to celebrate the transfer of Level 3 stock to the NYSE from the NASDAQ.

But Level 3 didn’t stop there

In mid November, it was announced that the provider expanded its suite of services and network capacity to meet rising broadband demand in Mexico in hopes to better serve worldwide carriers and companies that conduct business in the country. The new infrastructure connects Mazatlan, Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara in a 3,484 km ring, and is capable of providing terabits of capacity to transmit multimedia, data and voice services.

According to Gartner, the market for IP VPN, Ethernet and broadband Internet access in Mexico is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of over 15% last year and 2015.

Additional Information

As you can probably see, it’s been quite the year for Level 3 Communications. If you’re interested in learning more about the solutions offered by Level 3 or any other telecommunications services, give one of our professional account managers a call today!

Today’s leading communications providers offer Voice over IP with a comprehensive collection of features, such as long distance, unlimited local calling, and a host of other robust features at an affordable price. In addition, providers also offer multiple versions of Voice over IP, including:

• Dedicated Voice over IP phones – these permit Voice over IP calls without the need for a computer. Dedicated Voice over IP phones work by connecting you to a broadband or Wi-Fi network directly, as opposed to analog telephone adapters that plug into a jack and drawing on existing Internet service. Due to the fact that Voice over IP phones require Internet service, the majority of customers opt to employ them in addition to their Internet services.
• Analog Telephone Adapters – as mentioned above, analog telephone adapters work by plugging into a jack and drawing on your existing Internet service – a manner frequently used by broadband and cable providers to permit an enhanced ease of use and a more cost-efficient rate. Also, by employing an analog telephone adapter you get to enjoy the benefits and convenience that arise from bundling your Voice over IP service with cable TV and high-speed Internet services, such as one economical monthly bill.
• Softphones – softphones are essentially software that allows you to make Voice over IP calls via an Internet connection, eliminating the need for specific dedicated hardware. Softphones are installed on your computer. One of the most popular examples of a softphone today would be Skype, which – once installed on a computer with a broadband Internet connection – permits free local or international calling with a fixed phone number.

In short, Voice over IP service lets you stay connected while saving you money. It allows you to receive reasonably priced long distance and international rates, popular features, including caller ID and call forwarding, and provides reliable customer support – what’s not to love about that?

More Information

Are you interested in learning more about Voice over IP services? If so, give us a call today! We work with the leading providers of Voice over IP services and would love the chance to find you the ideal solution at the best available price.

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!

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!

Session Initiation Protocol trunking, also known as SIP trunking, enhances the quality and efficiency of your communications. Capable of also providing your business with considerable cost-savings, SIP trunking eliminates the need for expensive Primary Rate Interfaces (PRIs) ISDN Basic Rate Interfaces (BRIs) and local Public Switched Telephone Network gateways.

In contrast to traditional telephony, wherein groups of physical wires would be delivered from the provider to a business, SIP trunking allows you to substitute conventional fixed Public Switched Telephone Network lines with PSTN connectivity via the Internet.

In addition to placing telephone calls, SIP trunking also supports multiple forms of real-time unified communication on the same connection, such as conferencing, whiteboarding, inter-office file transferring, and instant messaging.

Hosted PBX

Let’s start by quickly defining what a PBX is; a PBX, or Private Branch exchange, is where an incoming call can be routed to different extensions. Due to advancements in modern technology, PBXs are no longer required to be on-site, thus the birth of the hosted PBX.

To put it simply, a hosted PBX offers advanced call routing that is hosted by a provider that handles the technical side. One of the biggest benefits of employing a hosted PBX system is the cost-savings it provides due to the fact that there are no required hardware purchases or upgrades. In addition, hosted PBX services make advanced business technology available for even small businesses.

SIP Trunking vs. Hosted PBX

What it really comes down to is the size of your business.

Smaller companies with 20 employees or less should opt for a hosted PBX solution, as it offers traditional PBX features that are managed off-site by a Voice over IP provider.

Larger enterprises and those with 20 or more employees are more likely to benefit from an SIP trunking service. However, SIP trunking requires you to have your own IP PBX equipment, which can be expensive.

It’s important to note that each provider has implemented their own version of what they believe each service should offer, which can lead to certain misconceptions and confusion in the marketplace.

Are you looking to employ a hosted PBX or SIP trunking service for your business? Give one of our skilled, professional account managers a call today! We partner with the leading providers of telecommunications services in order to find you the ideal solution to meet your unique needs at the best available price.

Oh where, oh where are the telecom jobs – oh where, oh where can they be?

According the CTIA – The Wireless Association (an international nonprofit membership organization that has represented the wireless communications industry since 1984), in 2010 wireless revenues reached almost $160 billion. However, according to the analysis of the US Department of Labor figures that was done by The Wall Street Journal, the number of US wireless jobs is decreasing, reporting that almost 6 months ago employment fell to 166,000 – a 12 year low that represented approximately 20,000 fewer jobs than in June of 2009 when the recession ended.

That being said, there is some discrepancy in the numbers. The survey conducted by the CTIA found that over 250,000 people were employed at the end of 2010, while the Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 172,000. When asked to explain the difference between the numbers, CTIA’s Research Department head, Robert Roche, stated “Different approaches and different definitions,” adding that the CTIA survey excludes other wireless-related jobs, such as maintenance and tower construction companies and large and independent retailers that sell wireless services and products.

XO Communications Possibly Cutting As Many As 400 Jobs

XO Communications, one of the nation’s largest competitive local exchange carriers that serves over 90,000 customers, including more than half of the Fortune 500, may be cutting up to 400 jobs.

Since completing a merger agreement to sell itself to affiliates of billionaire Carl Icahn back in mid-August, it has been said that Herndon, Virginia-based XO Communications will lay off up to 400 employees. Prior to the merger agreement, Icahn owned roughly 92% of the combined voting power of XO’s outstanding shares of capital stock.

When asked about the possibility of cutting hundreds of jobs, Chad Couser, spokesman for XO Communications stated that he had “no comment;” however according to one source, there was a conference call made last week to discuss the issue.

Now that the company has gone private it’s unlikely that any job-cut numbers will be disclosed, but this would not be un-charted territory; XO Communications has trimmed down its workforce before. In the first half of 2011, the provider’s selling, general and administrative expenses shrunk just over $20 million when matched up to the previous year. XO Communications ascribed the decrease primarily to “changes in employee benefit programs and a decline in payroll and related expenses due to headcount reductions.”

More about XO Communications:

XO Communications provides reliable communications solutions that are built around your individual requirements in order to keep your business productive and competitive. From advanced SIP trunking, Voice over IP and bundled data and voice communications to high-speed security and WAN solutions, XO is committed to providing powerful and reliable solutions – no matter what size your business is.

Small-sized businesses – get the biggest return on your investment with Dedicated Internet Access and Voice over IP services built especially for companies with fewer than 100 employees

Medium-sized businesses – let XO deliver end-to-end network and communications solutions so you can keep focused on your core business

Large enterprises – for companies with over 500 employees, XO helps improve operation efficiency and solve complex challenges via their robust hosted IT, security, networking and IP communications solutions