Posted: 07/2000
News Briefs
As part of its plan to extend its network to 36 U.S. markets by the end of 2001, Allegiance Telecom Inc. (www.allegiancetele.com) has signed a three-year, $350 million agreement for a broad range of advanced telecommunications equipment, software and services from Lucent Technologies Inc. (www.lucent.com).
The ICP currently serves small and medium-sized businesses in 21 metropolitan areas, including Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. It plans to reach into an additional 15 markets, including Charlotte, N.C.; Cleveland; Indianapolis; Miami; Phoenix; Portland, Ore.; and Tampa, Fla.
VoDSL provider Mpower Communications (www.mpowercom.com) is expanding into the Sacramento and San Francisco Bay Area markets. The company offers integrated services, such as local, long distance, Internet access, web hosting, and e-mail over a DSL line, to customers in 15 markets. It plans to add five more markets during the second quarter.
Broadwing Communications (www.broadwing.com) has rolled out an IP VPN solution. Called eClass, the service combines Broadwing's IP network with VPN security, traffic management and dynamically modifiable packet prioritization capabilities. Broadwing will use technology from XACCT Technologies (www.xacct.com) to support the service. XACCT usage allows Broadwing to provide customers usage-based billing, while it gives the carrier the ability to deliver web customer network management.
Network Plus Corp. (www.npl.com) launched its Custom Business Program suite of bundled voice products, combining local and long-distance services with Internet access via the company's CommandPlus DSL network. According to the company, customers using one of the program's three packages can save up to 35 percent. Freedom Plus offers pairs unlimited local and long-distance minutes with low-cost local access. Community Plus offers unlimited local calling and competitive rates for all other calls. EasyLink Plus provides discounted, bundled, local and long distance on a more traditional, "metered" basis.
