Unified Communications standard with most hosted PBX solutions

Unified Communications integrates your telephone system with your computer network and email server. When someone leaves you a message, the unified messaging system saves the recording into your “voice” mailbox and also sends the message in the form of a .wav file to your email inbox.
What are the benefits for you?

Email-Voicemail-FaxMail — All in One Box
• You can forward the voicemail message to anyone with an email address — not just the users in your voicemail system.
• It gives you the ability to prioritize your messages visually – listening to the most important ones first.
• Unified means “synchronized” — if you listen to a voicemail message from your email client, the system will turn off the message waiting light on your desk phone and the reverse.
• Caller ID information of the caller is displayed in the subject line.
• With SIP Fax capability — your faxes arrive in your email inbox as a PDF file — no more standing in line at the fax machine!!
• FaxMail can be sent directly from the desktop easily

News from Windstream

Windstream has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire PAETEC Holding Corp.
Windstream Corp. announces the expansion of its next-generation voice and data services into Columbus, Ga., giving local businesses a new choice for advanced communication services.
Windstream announced it has begun a significant expansion to its Raleigh data center, one which will grow the facility's usable space by almost 50 percent to 32,000 square feet.
Windstream Corp. this week brought its high-bandwidth Ethernet for businesses into 11 new markets. The service provider sells through channel partners, who now may offer Ethernet of up to 1gbps in Akron, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio; Indianapolis, Ind.; Wichita, Kan.; Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Okla.; northwestern Arkansas; Augusta, Ga.; Baton Rouge, La.; and Mobile, Ala.

Nitel Offers Flat-Rate MPLS Pricing

Until August 31, 2011, Nitel is offering flat-rate MPLS pricing nationwide. Each site -- no matter the distance from the central office -- is priced at $443.00 for T-1 access and port. The monthly price of $443.00 per site also includes quality of service/class of service.
Nitel is available to existing AT&T MPLS customers. If you are a current AT&T MPLS customer, consider switching to Nitel and take advantage of substantial savings.
Call me at 610-942-7501 for more information.

The Benefits of Cloud Computing

Key benefits of cloud computing:
• Flexibility – There is the ability to update hardware
and software quickly to adhere to customer demands
and updates in technology.
• Savings – There is a reduction of capital expenditures
and IT personnel.
• Location & Hardware Independence – Users
can access application from a web browser connected
anywhere on the internet.
• Multi-tenancy – Resources and cost are shared
among many users, allowing overall cost reduction.
• Reliability – Many cloud providers replicate their
server environments in multiply data centers around
the globe, which accounts for business continuity and
disaster recovery.
• Scalability – Multiply resources load balance peak load capacity and utilization across multiply hardware
platforms in different locations
• Security – Centralization of sensitive data improves security by removing data from the users’ computers.
Cloud providers also have the staff resources to maintain all the latest security features to help
protect data.
• Maintenance – Centralized applications are much easier to maintain than their distributed counter
parts. All updates and changes are made in one centralized server instead of on each user’s computer.
Copyright ©2010 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved.

Paetec Announces Plans for New Data Center in McLean, VA

MCLEAN, Va. - May 5, 2011 (Print-friendly PDF file)

PAETEC Holding Corp. (NASDAQ GS: PAET), a Fortune 1000 company that provides advanced communication solutions to businesses nationwide, today announced plans for the deployment of a new data center in McLean, Va., approximately ten miles northwest of Washington, D.C. The center, which includes 49,000 square feet of raised floor space, will provide colocation services and geographic diversity to businesses and government entities along the East Coast and nationwide. The center also will support the shift to cloud computing as more business applications move towards advanced network-based services. The McLean center is planned to open at the end of 2011.

Planned services in the center include colocation space, power, and connectivity to PAETEC's diverse portfolio of network services as well as high-speed, fault-tolerant connections to the public Internet. Customers will have access to PAETEC's newest data center services including Dedicated Server, Virtual Server, Managed Cloud Storage, Hosted Exchange and Hosted Network Security Services.

"We selected this location specifically to meet the growing needs of the mid-Atlantic businesses as well as to support government applications," said Sanjay Hiranandani, PAETEC's chief technology officer. "When coupled with our strong portfolio of solutions, leading-edge IP network infrastructure and industry-leading service, we expect this data center to be considered one of the premier centers on the East Coast. Additionally, our fiber and fixed wireless infrastructure ensure that we can deliver the cloud-based services to end users virtually anywhere in the country at Gigabit and higher speeds."

The three-story, 62,500 square foot existing facility will be converted into data center space over the next seven months. Plans call for 49,000 square feet of raised floor space available to customers to collocate their servers, routers, and other systems and communication equipment. PAETEC will be hiring an incremental set of technical staff, complementing its broad engineering talent base to support this center. The location is also planned to have a 24x7 Technical Assistance Center (TAC), redundant power, and latest advancements in physical security, including precautions against flooding, fire and natural disasters.

The center continues PAETEC's legacy of geographic expansion of data centers enabling cloud-based services on a truly national basis. With the addition of McLean, PAETEC will have key data center facilities in Andover, Mass.; Bethlehem and Conshohocken, Pa.; Milwaukee, Houston, Phoenix, and Richmond, Va., augmenting its footprint of more than 100 physical colocation facilities nationwide.

For more information on PAETEC's data center solutions, visit www.fast.com.

Century Link, Inc, to buy Savvis, Inc.

Phone company CenturyLink Inc. plans to buy Savvis Inc. for about $2.5 billion in cash and stock to beef up its data center business as it looks to cash in on increasing demand for cloud services, Reuters reported.
SOURCE: Washington Business Journal

AboveNet will provide high bandwidth, low-latency lit services and fiber optic network in key DFT markets

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., April 13, 2011 - AboveNet, Inc. (NYSE:ABVT), a leading provider of high bandwidth connectivity solutions, today announced it has provided fiber connectivity into DuPont Fabros Technology, Inc (DFT) wholesale data center NJ1 located in Piscataway, New Jersey. AboveNet is already connected to DFT's data centers located in Northern Virginia and suburban Chicago and is in the process of building out to DFT's newest data center development, SC1, located in Santa Clara, California.

Utilizing DFT's underground and secure 3-lateral conduit bank system, AboveNet will deploy equipment at DFT's NJ1 data center, making the facility an IP and Metro Ethernet POP. By utilizing AboveNet's private, fiber optic network and extensive metro footprint for high bandwidth connectivity, customers within NJ1 will be able to take advantage of connectivity to two major carrier hotels located in the New York City Metro area, enabling them access to key business hubs throughout the world.

"Our customers must have access to scalable, diverse high bandwidth connectivity with no network interruptions," said Hossein Fateh, president and chief executive officer for DuPont Fabros Technology. "AboveNet has and continues to provide high performance fiber optic networks for our customers' mission critical business applications."

AboveNet provides a complete portfolio of metro Ethernet, WDM, Long Haul and IP transit services. Potential benefits to DFT customers include:

Support for multiple protocols - simplifies connectivity into the LAN;
Scalability - adding capacity to the network is as simple as inserting a card and customers can scale from 1Gbps to 40Gbps;
Reliability - AboveNet WDM networks are designed to ensure availability, reliability and security;
Business continuity - Fiber Channel, ESCON or FICON for data mirroring, Storage Area Networks or other disaster recovery solutions;
Diversity - bypasses the ILEC or CLEC legacy networks;
Simple fiber handoff - no copper, pure fiber based network;
Industry - leading latency guarantee - added assurance with AboveNet's Agility Guarantee program.
DFT's enterprise and carrier customers also can access AboveNet's world-class fiber optic network infrastructure including more than 2.3 million fiber miles, an intercity network spanning approximately 12,000 route miles and a global Tier 1 IP backbone.

"We focus exclusively on the needs of the high bandwidth customer, so we designed our network to reach key Internet hub cities and markets with a high concentration of web-centric businesses, financial services organizations and enterprises with a multinational presence," said Bill LaPerch, president and chief executive officer for AboveNet. "We are pleased to work with DuPont Fabros Technology to bring this extensive network to their enterprise and carrier customers."

About AboveNet, Inc.
AboveNet, Inc. provides high bandwidth connectivity solutions for business and carriers. Its private optical network delivers key network and IP services in and among top U.S. and European markets. AboveNet's network is widely used in demanding markets such as financial services, media, health care, retail and government.

Level 3 to Acquire Global Crossing

BROOMFIELD, Colo. & FLORHAM PARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT) and Global Crossing Limited (NASDAQ: GLBC) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Level 3 will acquire Global Crossing in a tax-free, stock-for-stock transaction. The combined company will operate a unique global services platform anchored by fiber optic networks on three continents, connected by extensive undersea facilities. The combined network will serve a worldwide customer set with owned network in more than 50 countries and connections to more than 70 countries. This transaction will create a company with pro forma combined 2010 revenues of $6.26 billion and pro forma combined 2010 Adjusted EBITDA of $1.27 billion before synergies and $1.57 billion after expected synergies.

Under the terms and subject to the conditions of the agreement, Global Crossing shareholders will receive 16 shares of Level 3 common stock for each share of Global Crossing common stock or preferred stock that is owned at closing. Based on Level 3's closing stock price on April 8, 2011, the transaction is valued at $23.04 per Global Crossing common or preferred share, or approximately $3.0 billion, including the assumption of approximately $1.1 billion of net debt as of Dec. 31, 2010. Global Crossing has approximately 79 million basic and preferred shares outstanding and approximately 83 million shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis, giving effect to outstanding stock awards, but excluding performance-based stock grants.

The transaction will create a company with a unique capability to meet local, national and global customer requirements in a wide range of markets. By combining the strengths of each company, the new entity will offer enterprise, government, wholesale, content, and web-based customers a comprehensive portfolio of end-to-end data, video and voice solutions.

"This is a transformational combination that we believe will deliver significant value to the investors, customers and employees of both Level 3 and Global Crossing," said Jim Crowe, chief executive officer of Level 3. "The complementary fit between the two companies' networks, service portfolios and customers is compelling. By leveraging the respective strengths and extensive reach of both companies, we are creating a highly efficient and more extensive global platform that is well-positioned to meet the local and international needs of our customers."

"This transaction will provide Global Crossing shareholders with an attractive premium and significant participation in the upside potential of a leading communications company with industry-leading scale and capabilities. The combined service capabilities, extensive network assets and talented employees of the two companies will create a stronger global communications competitor with compelling offerings in the marketplace," said John Legere, chief executive officer of Global Crossing. "Each of our companies has a reputation for being nimble and flexible in meeting customers' communications needs, and we expect that to continue — with the added benefit of offering customers significantly greater reach, products and services."

"We're looking forward to welcoming Singapore Technologies Telemedia, Global Crossing's largest shareholder, as a significant investor," said Crowe. "They are exceptionally sophisticated managers, with holdings in telecommunications and information companies in a number of countries. They know the technology and they know the industry. The breadth of their communications experience and their knowledge of international markets will be a great asset to us."

"This strategic combination is an important milestone for both Global Crossing and Level 3, and a value-creating proposition for all stakeholders," said Lee Theng Kiat, president and chief executive officer of Singapore Technologies Telemedia (ST Telemedia). "Going forward, we believe the combined strengths of the two companies will position it in a very favorable, competitive position to expand in the U.S. and compete globally."

"We are committed to creating a high-performing combined business through a carefully managed integration plan executed by a select team from both companies," said Jeff Storey, president and chief operating officer of Level 3. "We will begin integration planning immediately and bring an aggressive, disciplined approach to the process. After the closing, as we integrate the two operations and work to achieve our expected synergies, we will be dedicated to maintaining our focus on providing excellent customer service and growing our combined revenues."

"The combination improves our balance sheet and credit profile immediately upon closing with further improvement as we achieve the benefits of integration. Additionally, the transaction accelerates the achievement of Level 3's target leverage ratio of three to five times debt to Adjusted EBITDA," said Sunit Patel, chief financial officer of Level 3. "Including the benefit of synergies and the cost of integration, we expect the transaction to be accretive to Level 3's Free Cash Flow per share in 2013 and to give us the financial strength to capitalize on the many opportunities available in the global market."

Level 3's International Enhancements for the Financial Industry

Level 3 Communications, Inc. announced it has added ultra-low-latency network routes to Milan and Zurich to its European financial services portfolio. The routes are available from London, Frankfurt, Madrid, New York City and Chicago. The routes further deepen Level 3's commitment to the financial services industry and provide financial exchanges and trading venues with access to all six major European financial centres as well as key U.S. centres over Level 3's international network.
SOURCE: Stockhouse

IPv6 on it's way -- learn more 2/17/11

Yesterday the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) announced it had assigned the remaining blocks of free IPv4 addresses to the Regional Internet Registries. And, at a press conference this Thursday, the Number Resource Organization (NRO) will be making a significant announcement about the global transition to IPv6.

Predictions are that it will take three to seven months for the registries to distribute the remaining IPv4 addresses to carriers. The replacement is the IPv6 format, which exponentially increases the available supply of addresses. It also means big changes for every sector of the communications industry, including enterprises.

What Enterprises Need to Know About IPv6
Thursday, Feb. 17 | 2 p.m. ET
http://www.thevoicereport.com/IPv6-Enterprise

Join your peers, along with IT pro Jeff Doyle, at this FREE 60-minute webinar for a close look at the drivers behind the transition to IPv6 and the implications for enterprise networks and users. Attend and ...

» Discover how broad-based IPv6 implementation by service providers affects the networks and services you use every day to run your business.

» Find out the “weak links” in your network where IPv6 is most likely to cause performance and compatibility problems -- and what you can do now to fix them!

» Get a checklist you can use to ask your vendors and service providers about their IPv6 implementation plans ... they’re questions worth asking in an RFP too!

» Understand the timeliness involved in IPv6 deployment so you can build an effective, realistic IPv6 strategy for your enterprise.

» Plus, Jeff has set aside ample time for your questions

The IPv6 format was developed several years ago ... but at that time the supply of IPv4 addresses was adequate. Now the explosion in smart, Internet-capable devices and the boom in broadband services have made IPv6 a mandatory part of your network plans and operation.

So make sure you know all the critical details ... register now for “What Enterprises Need to Know About IPv6” at http://www.thevoicereport.com/IPv6-Enterprise

Backlog of Verizon orders cause significant installation delays

As of January 12, 2011
Due to a significant backlog of orders at Verizon, all Firm Order Commitment (FOC) dates requested within the Verizon territory will experience significantly extended intervals.

This situation affects all CLEC’s, wholesale carriers and retail customers with orders through Verizon. The normal FOC interval duration for orders is now expected to be at least four weeks, pushing FOC dates into February and possibly March.

In order to reduce the number of backlog order currently in its system, Verizon is taking the following actions:

· No expedites will be accepted until the backlog is resolved

· Orders in the backlog will be Verizon’s singular focus, resulting in new CLEC or Verizon orders getting FOC dates in February and possibly March

· Exceptions can only be approved by Verizon at the SVP level.

Verizon’s target for resolving this issue and being back to normal operations is April 1.

Please factor this information into timelines dependant upon Verizon or CLEC T-1 connectivity. Moves, adds and changes may also be impacted.

Merger and Acquisition Activity in the Telecom Arena

The CenturyLink-Qwest Communications deal passed a key regulatory hurdle this week, gaining support from the Washington State Attorney General’s Office and after the companies agreed to invest at least $80 million in broadband infrastructure in Washington over the next five years, as well as freeze basic residential telephone prices for three years.

One Communications has been purchased by Earth Link. The merger has not completed as of this date.

Paetec has successfully purchased Cavalier Telecom. They deal was finalized at the final quarter of 2010.