TeleWorkings

Unified Communications standard with most hosted PBX solutions

2011-10-24T08:35:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-15T06:18:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-06T12:34:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-05-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-21T06:31:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-11T09:37:00.001-07:00

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

2011-03-21T14:15:00.000-07:00

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

2011-02-03T08:23:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-13T07:15:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-03T08:49:00.000-08:00

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.

CLEC One Communications for Sale

2010-12-15T06:30:00.000-08:00

As reported in Phone + Magazine, PAETEC and EarthLink Inc. both are rumored to want to buy CLEC One Communications Corp., which put itself up for sale in September.

Reuters reports, though, that EarthLink is officially in the running. Bids for the Massachusetts-based One were due yesterday and pricing could fall between $500 million and $1 billion. The news service quoted anonymous sources not authorized to speak on behalf of the companies involved.

About three months ago, One Communications put itself up for sale as it risked breaching debt covenants. Since that time, PAETEC has been considered a leading contender for the rival CLEC; the purchase would expand PAETEC’s reach in the northeastern United States, although PAETEC wouldn’t get much in the way of fiber assets. One Communications just sold those holdings to NTELOS.

A One Communications takeover also makes sense for EarthLink. As the dial-up ISP distances itself from a dying business model, another CLEC purchase would form a solid strategy, Current Analysis research director Brian Washburn said. If EarthLink combined its New Edge Networks and DeltaCom businesses with another competitive provider’s resources, the resulting company starts to look like “a very large, super-regional CLEC."

One Communications formed in 2006 after three CLECs merged. But earlier this fall, the economy, debt and other problems pushed the CLEC to hire private equity firm Blackstone Group LP to explore “strategic alternatives" that could include M&A.

One Communications could not comment on the reported sale plans.

Is Hosted PBX (VOIP) right for your business?

2010-11-04T07:37:00.000-07:00

Hosted PBX, or Hosted VoIP (Voice over IP), represents the latest wave in phone system technology. With Hosted PBX, the phone system server resides in the provider's data center instead of your office. Voice and data traffic is routed over the public switched telephone network, or PSTN, to the hosted system. Since the system itself is offsite, Hosted PBXs offer Web-based access to configure the system, define how you want calls to flow, view call detail records and billing information, listen to and delete voice mail, and more.

Pros:

Cost-effective way for smaller businesses to get rich VoIP functionality
Minimal IT involvement needed to install solution
Easy, online access to administer features, manage the system, and add/delete users
Scales easily in small businesses (Service-Only/Bundled) or larger businesses

Things to Consider:

System improvements and upgrades are performed on the provider's schedule and may not be available when you want or need them
Upfront costs can be substantial depending on level of VoIP infrastructure needed and phones that need to be purchased
Many providers are start ups, so you'll need to decide if you have concerns about whether they'll go out of business or consolidate with another vendor

Verizon Business rolls out bundled FiOS package

2010-09-08T10:08:00.000-07:00

Verizon Solutions for Business Bundle-One Bill, One Term, Competitive pricing.

*Customer with 25 lines or less (comes with Caller ID and Voicemail)

*FIOS or HSI Internet from 3MB to 50MB

*Unlimited National Calling (local, regional and LD)

*Free Website powered by Intuit + Web Listings

*Online Backup and Sharing

*Internet Security Suite

Pricing Example:
FIOS:

5 Lines with Unlimited National Calling (local, regional and LD) w/ Caller ID and Voicemail

Free Website Advertising for a year

Free Web Listings for a year

25/25 Static FIOS

Internet Security Suite

Online Backup and Sharing

$240 a month!

Don't fall victim to incorrect carrier billing!

2010-07-12T18:07:00.000-07:00

The New Jersey state government has paid more than $3.2 million annually for more than 19,000 phone lines that had gone unused and were no longer needed, according to an audit released Wednesday by the Office of the State Comptroller.

In response to the audit's findings, state agencies have disconnected or suspended each of the lines.

The audit of the state's Office of Information Technology (OIT), also found the state has been renewing some of its major telecommunications contracts for more than a decade without opening the contracts up to competition as required by law.

Don't let this happen to you! Let TelecoWorks help review your current invoices and keep your carrier honest. Don't forget to alert current telecom providers not to auto renew at the end of the contract term. Give yourself the freedom to investigate new technologies and new lower priced providers.

Verizon Business lowers the price of Dedicated Internet Access and Provides Mobile Backup

2010-07-08T12:58:00.000-07:00

• Competitive Pricing -T1 Rates as low as $377.50 with Free Adtran Router (available to approx. 75% of the business in the USA)
• Automatic Mobile Broadband Backup: Broadband backup over the Verizon Wireless network provides SMB customers with an attractive alternative to traditional wireline business continuity solutions, offering high speed at a low cost along with rapid deployment. The combined solution features two linked ADTRAN NetVanta 3200 routers - one connected to the primary T1 access source and the other featuring a 3G wireless Network Interface Module designed for use with the Verizon Wireless network. This dual-unit approach provides the flexibility to place the 3G NIM-equipped router wherever cellular coverage is strongest. The IDA circuit and Internet traffic are actively monitored so that the wireless link is activated only as needed.
• Verizon Business' Global IP Network Ranks No. 1 as Most Connected Public Internet Network, for the Tenth Consecutive Year
• Global availability on six continents and 150 countries.
• Quality of Service is available to support mission-critical communications
• 24x7 Monitoring
• Industry leading SLA's

Universal Service Fund Fee makes IP voice even more cost-effective

2010-04-13T08:18:00.000-07:00

The Universal Service Fund fee for interstate and International calls will be raised from 11% 4th Quarter 2009 to 15.3% for second quarter 2010. This increase translates to lots of additional cost for call centers and companies with high state to state usage. And, it applies to wireless traffic, too.

The USF -- established by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 -- subsidizes phone service for schools, libraries, rural health care organization and low-income subscribers. This charge has been steadily increasing from 9.5% in the first quarter of 2009.

However, this fee does NOT apply to most carrier-provided IP voice. So, not is a good time to review current telecom expenditures and consider the switch from TDM to IP-based voice services.

Individual vs. Corporate Cell phone ownership

2010-02-03T05:57:00.000-08:00

President's Obama's new budget may repeal the Corporate cell phone tax. That may even the playing field from a tax perspective. However, what other liabilities should Corporations consider when deciding whether to own and manage employee cell phones or let the employees make their own cell phone choices?

Individual-liable pros:
*the company is not in the business of buying, replacing, and maintaining phones
* if there’s a problem with a user’s phone, that person has to work with his/her carrier and resolve the problem themselves
* the tax issue goes away
* the legal liability issue lessens, although it’s not completely eradicated. If an employee is using his/her own phone, but it has corporate email, calendar, etc. on it, the company can still be held liable in a lawsuit should the user be involved in an accident while using the phone. The legal folks on the list-serv can elaborate on this one.

Individual-liable cons:
* much less control over the costs of cell phone plans, as you noted below
* freedom of choice can lead you to allowing all kinds of phones, including Droids, iPhones, Pres, Nexus, etc. that may not be designed for an enterprise or workplace. If your team doesn’t have to support these or allow corporate email, etc. on any of them, and you’re only covering voice plan costs, it may not be a problem.
* the hidden “soft costs” of processing expense reports

Corporate-liable pros:
* use a corporate account to realize much better pricing
* no need to process those expense reports
* standardizing on specific phones

Corporate-liable cons:
* you’re in the cell phone business
* tax and legal liabilities
* the responsibility of reviewing and checking invoicing, and making sure users remain within policy boundaries

Start 2010 off right with great Promo Pricing on XO's IPFLEX

2010-01-08T18:19:00.000-08:00

IP Flex with Dynamic DIA, LD Packages (higher LD available)

1.5MB IP Flex with 2K Minutes, $435.00 MRC
1.5MB IP Flex with 5K Minutes, $462.00 MRC
1.5MB IP Flex with 10K Minutes, $550.00 MRC

3.0MB IP Flex with 2K Minutes, $735.00 MRC
3.0MB IP Flex with 5K Minutes, $786.00 MRC
3.0MB IP Flex with 10K Minutes, $900.00 MRC

4.5MB IP Flex with 2K Minutes, $959.00 MRC
4.5MB IP Flex with 5K Minutes, $1,012.00 MRC
4.5MB IP Flex with 10K Minutes, $1,124.00 MRC

10MB IP Flex (please see me directly for pricing)

AT&T wants the Government to allow them to phase out POTs service

2010-01-03T17:34:00.000-08:00

All the more reason to get on the VOIP bandwagon! Carriers begin to petition the government to allow them to dismantle "circuit switched" telephone systems. See below:

NEW YORK (Reuters) - AT&T Inc told U.S. telecoms regulators that it should set plans for phasing out older telephone networks if the government wants to make high-speed Internet access available across the country.
U.S.
AT&T, the original U.S. phone operator, described older voice-based "circuit switched" telephone systems and service as "relics of a by-gone era" in a filing with the Federal Communications Commission dated December 21.
It said that the government's goal of 100 percent broadband Internet access is in reach only if resources are moved away from "plain-old telephone service", known in the industry as POTS and the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
Otherwise "Congress's goal of universal access to broadband will not be met in a timely or efficient manner if providers are forced to continue to invest in and to maintain two networks," AT&T said in the filing.
"Due to technological advances, changes in consumer preference, and market forces, the question is when, not if, POTS service and the PSTN over which it is provided will become obsolete," AT&T said.
More than 90 percent of the population has access to broadband, according to AT&T the country's biggest operator with expected 2009 revenue of about $123 billion. It said that phone companies will continue to work to cover the rest of the country, but will need some encouragement from regulators.
AT&T was created in the late 19th century to build a communications network that would stretch across the United States, and became the dominant U.S. phone company.
It has gone through multiple changes since then, including a breakup in the 1980s, but remains the largest U.S. telephone company by revenue

2009-11-19T05:28:00.000-08:00

TelecoWorks Celebrates Sovereign Bank's New Location
by Awarding Eagles' Tickets

Exton, PA-November 17, 2009 TelecoWorks of Downingtown, a Sovereign Bank business customer, helped to celebrate the merging of two Sovereign Bank branches by holding a special drawing for two Philadelphia Eagles tickets. The lucky winner of the Redskins/ Eagles match-up is Wendy Dexter of Smaltz's Harley- Davidson of Chester Springs. Pictured with Dexter are (from left), Sovereign Bank Assistant Vice President Linda J. Bishop, TelecoWorks President, Valerie Brauckman Burgess, Dexter and co-sponsor, Beth Suero of Exton IT networking firm, eb-Logix.

TelecoWorks is an independent telecom-consulting firm that can help companies secure a stable network infrastructure to support sustainable business practices. Specializing in VoIP technologies, audio and video conferencing, hosted and virtual solutions, TelecoWorks can improve a company's technology footprint. TelecoWorks serves national and local companies in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware and Maryland. Visit them at www.Telecoworks. For information on TelecoWorks, located in Downingtown, PA, please visit www.Telecoworks.com or call 610-942-7501

PAETEC Announces Continues Expansion of Ethernet Local Loop Access Nationwide

2009-10-26T06:58:00.000-07:00

October 19, 2009 - PAETEC announced that is has expanded its on-net Ethernet Local Loop (ELL) offering to seven additional on-net cities in 2009 to benefit customers with complex data needs.
Ethernet access enables businesses to connect buildings or access the PAETEC MPLS network using the same technology commonly used in Local Area Networks, simplifying network management and reducing equipment costs. PAETEC now serves a total of 36 on-net markets with Ethernet access and plans to reach an additional six markets by year-end, serving over half of its 83 core markets nationwide with direct Ethernet access. PAETEC can also reach 100% of its MSA coverage area via Ethernet utilizing existing partnership agreements.
"We've heard from our customers of their desire to use Ethernet as a local loop to drive new speeds and efficiency for their business," said John Chapman, senior vice president of marketing. "Today's announcement is a continuation of our tradition of offering personalized solutions to meet the diverse needs of our customers. We now offer multiple access methods to our network, including Ethernet, T-1 to OC-3 circuits, Fixed Wireless or even direct access in our data centers."
PAETEC offers its Ethernet Local Loop product primarily through Network-to-Network Interface (NNI) connections with various local access providers within its service areas. Earlier in 2009, PAETEC also announced Ethernet capabilities via its own fixed wireless circuits across the United States.
PAETEC now can deliver Ethernet access to areas in Alabama, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The company is planning on future Ethernet access expansions in the west and mid-western areas of the United States.
For More Information of Ethernet products and services contact: Valerie Brauckman at TelecoWorks, 1-800-TELECO-5 OR 610-942-7501

Teleworkers Seamlessly Connected!

2009-10-01T10:43:00.000-07:00

XO Communications now offers XO Anywhere, a unified
communications solution that simplifies phone communications
for the remote or mobile worker.
With the XO Anywhere package, employees can use your office’s
XO service to make and receive phone calls anytime, from anywhere.
Customers can always reach you anywhere by dialing your office line,
and you can make calls from anywhere as if you were in the office.
You’ll never miss another important call.

With XO Anywhere, you can instantly set up
a remote office and work from anywhere
because your office is where you are.
No more voicemail tag!
Remote Office lets you make outbound
calls from any phone using your office’s
XO service. It dials the phone you’re using
and the number you’re dialing and connects
them seamlessly. Long distance minutes
are automatically charged against your XO
service. And, XO Anywhere displays your
office caller ID on your customer’s phone.
No more using your personal cell minutes,
no more long distance charges on your home
phone, no more giving out multiple phone
numbers to customers. And, because it’s
transparent to your customers, XO Anywhere
ensures a professional appearance no matter
where you are working from.

Celebrate Green IT in Philadelphia

2009-09-16T12:17:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Green IT in Philly Oct. 20!
If you work in IT or Business Technology, and want to learn ways to bring your Passion for the Planet to work, come
Celebrate Green IT in Philly, Oct 20, 2009 at 6 PM at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway. This event is free, but please RSVP to http://greeninformationtechnology.eventbrite.com/.

For information, see David Calloway's blog at http://www.greenitdigest.blogspot.com/

Meet other Enviro ITers, enjoy refreshments, be entertained and informed by Quiet Riot (not the 80s metal band), and see how one local firm went Green, powerfully and profitably.
Hosted by ANSP’s Center for Environmental Policy

XO Launces XO Connect, a new Multi-Modal Mass Notification Service

2009-08-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

XO has launched XO Connect, a multi-modal mass notification service that allows businesses and enterprises to communicate with their employees wherever they may be, especially in urgent situations when real-time communications are essential. Be it a natural disaster, service outage or a motivational message from the leadership, the new XO Connect service can easily and quickly address these business communications challenges. XO Connect enables an organization’s leaders and other authorized users to record, schedule, send and track thousands of voice, email, and text messages in minutes. Customers can send an unlimited number of messages to staff, suppliers, volunteers, or other key audiences via voice, text-messaging, and email. The messages can be sent to mobile phones, landlines, web-enabled PDAs, email addresses, and TTY/TDD devices. Messages can be sent by either using a telephone and a computer connected to the Internet to schedule delivery of messages, or by using just a telephone to record and send messages immediately to all contacts when urgent situations demand. XO Connect is a Software as a Service (SaaS) application which seamlessly integrates with the technology your prospects use now. XO Connect is offered at a low, per-recipient annual subscription fee, for unlimited messaging. XO has partnered with Blackboard to be the exclusive provider of XO Connect.

You do not need to be an XO customer to take advantage of this service. Please call TelecoWorks for more information at 610-942-7501.

10 Questions to Ask Your Hosted PBX Provider Before Signing a Contract

2009-08-19T06:33:00.001-07:00

Hosted PBX solutions require a new way to examine and negotiate contracts. Customers are essentially handing over their communicattions to an outside provider. To get it right requires patience and due diligence. See this checklist below and call me for more insights.

Focus Research ©2009
How to save money, get service guarantees and make sure your provider will work for you.
Signing up for a hosted IP PBX provider is just like signing up for cable TV; the provider is trying to lock you in to a long-term contract at terms that give them the most profit, while you’re just trying to get the service and features you need at the lowest possible price. Plus, there are always hidden costs.
The key to avoiding a contract with more (or less) service than you need is asking the right questions. This list covers what questions you should ask before you sign on the dotted line. If you have specific concerns such as advanced call center features that might affect your business, you’ll want to add them to the list as well.
What is the contract-termination policy?
1. You want to know whether you can get out early without a penalty and what the other termination costs might be. Unfortunately, providers — and particularly their sales teams — often try to lock you into long-term contracts. This is common practice throughout the communications industry and you may not be able to avoid it, but you can do your best to remove arbitrary and excessive early-termination penalties. Several of the newer hosted IP PBX providers are reacting smartly to the situation by providing service with no installation or termination penalties. Be sure to check the policies on equipment, as well as those that apply to the basic service.
What startup costs are there beyond setup and equipment fees?
2. This is where you want to look for hidden costs. Find out exactly what you’ll need to get service. Ask if phones, extra servers, interface cards and other add-ons are included or if they cost extra. If you have the "wrong" kind of network (one that doesn’t work with the hosted provider’s VoIP system) will you end up needing new cards and extra software? Can you use your existing broadband service? If not, can you switch your broadband supplier without penalty (and preferably at an additional saving)?It’s easy to get sucked into a deal with installation and equipment costs at $100 or less per seat, but that’s often for a minimal configuration. You might find out later that you need add-on equipment. Be particularly careful about phones; if the phone is free, it’s quite likely to be extremely basic, and you may need more features. Think of the phone as a piece of equipment you use all day, every day, and you’ll get an idea of why you want the best phone.
What day-to-day usage costs are not covered by my service plan?
3. What are the rates for international calls, for example? This is yet another place where hidden fees lurk. Make sure there aren’t any add-on fees for important features; some providers charge more for conference calling, others for different forms of long-distance and still others for some advanced features. Make a quick list of all the communications needs that you have, then ask about all the items so you can forecast prices accurately. This is particularly true if you make a lot of international or toll-free calls or if you need extensive inbound toll-free calls. One bright spot is that this is an area where you can’t really lose — all hosted IP PBX solutions are cheaper for actual calls than any non-IP or non-VoIP solution.
Can the system handle outbound and inbound faxes out of the box?
4. Can I just plug in a fax machine or do I need special equipment? Faxing is a hidden gotcha of VoIP. Many older systems can’t handle faxes, while others require a special faxing module. The bottom line is that just because you have a phone line with VoIP, it doesn’t mean you can plug a fax into it. Make sure you’re covered and find out what it will cost. A typical solution is to obtain an extra box or adapter for a fax line, which will cost extra. But some solutions are smart enough to route faxes beyond the adapter and deliver them to email inboxes as well. Check the details before you bite.
Do I need add-ons or extras to handle old-style analog phones that I already have or that remote or branch offices have already installed?
5. Fortunately there is a solution to this issue that can save you some money. If you have offices that already have extensive, modern analog phones, some provider systems will work with them as transparently as with more advanced SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and VoIP phones. That can save you as much as a couple of hundred dollars per phone. This is particularly important for remote branches or offices, especially if you need to do a phased rollout. You will need to double check what features are supported on analog phones and how they are operated. If it is too difficult to transfer calls for example, this feature, even if it is supported by the provider, might as well not be there.
How does the system handle remote and mobile workers?
6. The key here is to find out whether the experience is the same for a telecommuter in a rural area as it is for someone at a head office and how it will handle people on the road.If you don’t have mobile or remote requirements, obviously this isn’t a concern right now, but in time it may be. And if you do have remote and mobile employees, then you need to find out what the provider can and cannot do for you. Some providers can handle any mobile or remote phone almost as easily as an extension in the main office, but others cannot. Creative solutions might save you more money than going to a system that can handle remote employees. For example, getting a single line for a remote employee on a different plan then using your system’s call-forwarding features might end up being more cost-effective. Since many hosted IP PBXs handle remote users very well — including ‘road warriors’ who travel a lot — this can be a great extension for your business.
If I underestimate my requirements and need a major upgrade or my company
7. grows, what are the additional costs for upgrading? There isn’t too much you can do here — miscalculating requirements is going to be a problem no matter what. But you can minimize the pain with a provider that is willing to work with you and that provides good service. At least find out what the issues might be down the road as you’ll need to know how to handle business growth anyway.
How do you guarantee your quality of service?
8. Quality of service is a big differentiator among providers. What you want to know here is, if you have issues with quality, how you’ll get support, who you should contact and how fast fixes will happen. When there is a complex problem and your network equipment supplier, your broadband supplier and your service provider are all pointing fingers at each other, you want a provider that will step up to solve the problem.These are all questions to ask the provider directly. If they can’t more than satisfy you in this area, look elsewhere. Your communications system is vital to your success, so don’t put yourself in a position of being held hostage by an incompetent provider. It obviously helps if your broadband supplier and your IP phone provider are one and the same, but regardless, if they aren’t willing to even step up to try to solve your problems, then how good will they be at actually solving them? Take the time to understand all the issues. For example, if there is a major backhaul network failure (the network that connects most of the Internet together in the background), then your provider is unlikely to be able to do a single thing about it, but check if they will at least provide failovers to an old-style analog line for emergencies.
What about emergency services — do you provide full 911 or E911 services?
9. Will dispatchers know my location automatically — and how about remote workers? This is a flat-out requirement that many VoIP providers don’t like to talk about. If they don’t have a solution right now, they ought to have one in the pipeline. Fortunately, since 911 compliance has been made a federal mandate, the problem is being solved very rapidly. But do ask how the system will know things like location for someone on the road. And that leads us to the last question ...
How do I know you are going to be around in two years, let alone three?
10. Communications and VoIP is an industry of consolidation and aggressive competition. Find out if your provider is stable and make sure your contract is binding even if your provider gets acquired. Ideally, you want the new provider to take up your contract with no change, while giving you the option of moving on without penalty if you don’t like the new arrangement.

Swine Flu threat raises telework questions

2009-04-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

Another reminder of the need for business continuity plans that include telework, analysts say
By Ann Bednarz , Network World , 04/28/2009

The possibility of a widespread swine flu outbreak is prompting companies to think about business continuity and how options such as telework may become a necessity.
Companies that have solid telework plans in place are in good shape, says Chuck Wilsker, president and CEO of The Telework Coalition in Washington, D.C. Those that aren't prepared to have employees work offsite may find operations at a standstill if the swine flu threat were to escalate to the point of widespread absenteeism or building closures. "This is a really lousy economic time for businesses to have to go cold turkey and not be able to carry on," Wilsker says.
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So far, most businesses that are inquiring about telework to address swine flu concerns are curious, but not overreacting, Wilsker says. "I'm seeing interest and concern, not panic. But people are asking if telework is something that can be used to offset this."
Wilsker sees the swine flu threat as one more reason for companies to get serious about enabling telework. Just as the 9/11 terrorist attacks, hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the 2005 New York transit strike and the Minneapolis bridge collapse highlighted the need for business continuity plans, "it's one more thing to make organizations realize that once you're prepared for something like this, you're prepared," he says.

For more on this article go to: http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/042809-swine-flu-telework.html

Call me for affordable teleworking options!

BroadBand Nation: What Factors Are Most Critical In Deciding Bandwidth Requirements For A Voice/Data Network Solution?

2009-03-19T07:19:00.000-07:00

The $10 Million dollar question...how much bandwidth do I need for a VOIP network and my video applicatons. See what factors to consider:
BroadBand Nation: What Factors Are Most Critical In Deciding Bandwidth Requirements For A Voice/Data Network Solution?

DS3 Internet Port for just $990.00 per month

2009-03-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Between now and March 31, 2009, secure a DS3 Internet port from a Tier One provider for just $990.00 per month. Access loop is additional. This is a great promotional rate with limited availability. Call Telecoworks at 610-942-7501 today for more information.

Reduce your carbon footprint...and be more productive

2009-02-18T07:48:00.001-08:00

Web conferencing is now established as one of the most essential tools for business communications. From sales and marketing to training and collaboration, Web conferencing can dramatically save time and money as well as help the environment. Even so, many busy network administrators and executives are still slow to adopt Web conferencing as part of their overall communication plan. The reasons? Most likely, it's due to a lack of understanding about the technology itself as well as how it's most effectively deployed and utilized. Of course, it really isn't that difficult to begin using Web conferencing as soon as today... and we can prove it! What to test out a web conference? Call TelecoWorks to schedule a free web conference. Use it to deliver a sales presentation to a prospect. Or a training event for your team. Try it as a collaborative tool with project partners. Call 610-942-7501 to schedule your free web conference.

2009-01-28T11:43:00.000-08:00

Good news in a challenging economy.

XO Communications just released an independent study on telecommunication and IT spending for 2009. Here are some of the report's findings:

Despite the worldwide economic crisis, the outlook for networking is relatively positive as companies look to telecommunications as a path to surviving -- and even thriving -- in these turbulent times. Overall, telecommunications will see some negative impact, but telecommunication services budgets are remaining essentially at existing levels. This is most likely due to an increase in dependence on networking functions as part of the business processes, and may especially be due to an increase in the use of managed services.

Key Findings
In November of 2008, as the impact of current economic conditions became clear, the worldwide Webtorials community was invited to participate in a survey concerning their companies' economic outlook for 2009. While the User base was the primary focus for the survey, additional perspectives were considered as well.*

There are two goals of this document. First, it is intended to provide Enterprise network C-Levels, planners and administrators with a baseline to compare their plans with those of their colleagues, In particular, this should be helpful in obtaining approval for additional funding as needed. Secondly, it is intended to help reinforce methods by which networking technology can be used to redefine business processes to increase/preserve profitability.

While there will be a negative impact on 2009 telecommunications budgets, this impact is not expected to be severe, and over one-third of the companies expect no impact or some degree of increased funding. Overall, a quantitative index for Users showed the anticipated impact to be halfway between "no impact" and a "moderate negative impact."
Companies will be dependent on telecommunications more than ever, but there will be little additional funding (or, overall, a decrease in funding) to support both ongoing and new initiatives.
Funding for telecommunications services and staff salaries will be the least affected of the areas about which the respondents were queried. These two subcategories will, for all practical purposes, see no significant change.

The bottom line from the above-mentioned trends is that the effective use of telecommunications networks will not only be a key component in surviving the current economic conditions, but effective use can actually allow a company to thrive in these conditions.

For a complete copy of the report, please e-mail me at vbrauckman@telecoworks.com.

*In addition to users who are actively involved in the on-going planning and operation of their networks, we also solicited responses from the broader base of individuals who were representative of the portion of the Webtorials base that comes from within the industry. Overall, there were 300 respondents to at least a part of the survey and almost 250 responded tot he entire survey. Of the users responding to the survey, the distribution by company size (in number of employees) was 1-00, 11%; 100-149, 19%; 500-999, 8%; 1,000 - 4,999, 22%; 5,000-9,999, 8%; 10,000-49,999, 14%; 50,000 or more, 18%.

Welcome to Everything Telecom

2008-10-02T13:46:00.000-07:00

The place to go for practical, pragmatic tips on telecom.