RESELLER CHANNEL: News Briefs

Posted: 08/2002

News Briefs

* WorldTeq Group International Inc. has launched a program to provide wholesale service to U.S. payphone operators featuring aggressive pricing and online management tools. The company says it added about 2,500 payphones to its network and is negotiating contracts to bring on an additional 100,000 by the end of the summer.

* Expertcity Inc., a provider of Web-based remote-access and customer-support technologies, has created the GoToMyPC Channel Partner Program offering resellers the opportunity to sell its year-old Web-based telecommuting and remote-access solution. Expertcity's GoToMyPC Channel Partner Program offers a three-tiered model: Large resellers that handle their own pre- and post-sales support and back-end processes such as billing will receive a 15 percent to 20 percent commission for an annual contract. Resellers relying on Expertcity for back-end support will receive a 10 percent to 15 percent commission, and referral partners will receive a 10 percent commission. Partners also receive exclusive partner promotions, MDF, cobranding, monthly reports, free technical support, sales training, and a dedicated extranet outlining a complete product sales and support program.

* MCI group an operating unit of WorldCom Inc., has extended The Neighborhood, its any-distance phone service, to small businesses through the introduction of Business Complete, which for $39.99 to $49.99 provides unlimited local phone service or 3,000 local minutes (depending on the state), a 6.9 cents per minute rate for in-state and state-to-state long distance, as well as a suite of calling and messaging features. It is available in 18 states and soon will reach nearly half of all U.S. small businesses. The local portion of the service is made possible through a partnership with UNE-P reseller Z-Tel Technologies Inc. in 22 states and direct resale agreements in 10 other states.

* KVH Industries is offering its own branded global satellite communications services to complement its line of satellite communications hardware for the maritime and RV industries. The service will be provided on a wholesale basis by mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat, and will be branded simply as "Inmarsat Airtime by KVH." Services offered range from global data services suitable for tracking or e-mail to two-way fax, phone and high-speed data solutions. KVH's new Tracphone F77 will be compatible with Inmarsat's next generation of satellites to be launched in 2004.

* Reseller Talk America has introduced a line of bundled local and long-distance phone services for residential and small business customers based on local, regional and long-distance calling patterns as well as feature preferences. The company sells its bundled products and services in seven states through multiple sales channels, including telemarketing, referrals, independent sales representatives, a direct sales force and the Web.