RESELLER CHANNEL: Briefs

Posted: 07/2002

Briefs

* Williams Communications Group Inc. launched May 22 streaming media services, including wholesale streaming, which gives large-volume streaming customers, including media and entertainment content owners or streaming media resellers, carrier-class scalability. Through its streaming media offerings, Williams Communications moves more than 63 million audio and video streams over its network on a monthly basis.

* Alliance Group Services Inc. announced in May it has renewed a multimillion-dollar agreement with AT&T Corp. Among the services enabled under the contract are 1+/toll-free switched, 1+ switched CIC, carrier toll-free (outbound), 1+/toll-free dedicated, carrier toll-free (inbound), calling card, carrier private line, frame relay, advanced toll-free, international toll-free and local Ts. AGSi also plans to offer enhanced audioconferencing and Webconferencing, streaming media and Webcasting.

* Voicecom launched in May a wholesale program for voice mail and unified communications services. Voice mail products include voice mail to e-mail, e-mail by phone and network messaging. Unified communications products features include a find me/follow me service with call screening, fax to e-mail, conference calling, voice mail to e-mail, e-mail by phone, and the option for international calling.

Voicecom's provisioning and billing systems interface with existing customer service and billing systems and offer options such as a real-time Web provisioning, batch file provisioning and XML interface integration.

* Under a May deal, Palladium Communications Inc. will sell bundled services, including local, long-distance and dial-up Internet service, from EPICUS Inc. to its small business and residential customers in the Southeastern United States. EPICUS will replace Adelphia Communications, which filed bankruptcy March 27, as Palladium's primary underlying carrier.

* Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) has made a joint-marketing deal with Eagle Broadband Inc.'s wherein SAIC will offer its customers Eagle's Bundled Digital Services packages, including local and-long distance voice over IP (VoIP), high-speed Internet connectivity, 200-plus IP broadcast television and music channels over fiber, interactive TV and video on demand (VoD). SAIC also can sell Eagle subsidiary BroadbandMagic's line of Advanced IP Set-Top Boxes for IP broadcast and VoD and Eagle subsidiary atlanticpacific's structured wiring, cable installation and project management.

* EarthLink Inc. launched high-speed Internet service to consumers to approximately 118,000 households in Time Warner Cable's Detroit service area over Time Warner's facilities. Initial pricing is $41.95 for speeds up to 2mbps downstream and 384kbps upstream.

* WorldCom Inc. plans to sell its wireless resale unit, marking another step in its effort to slash debt. The No. 2 long-distance carrier said "several major facilities-based carriers" have expressed interest in the wireless unit, adding the company would reduce part of its 2,200-member wireless workforce as it sought a buyer.