PARTNER CHANNEL: News Briefs

Posted: 10/2002

News Briefs

* Michael McDonnell, vice president of Qwest Communications International Inc.'s Business Partner Program (QBPP), has resigned. Patrick Lewis, senior vice president of indirect channels, will take over McDonnell's responsibilities. McDonnell is not the only QBPP executive to leave Qwest in recent memory. Craig Schlagbaum, director of partner program development, left the company in March, and is now vice president of channel sales at NTT/Verio Inc. There is no word yet on McDonnell's next move.

* 9278 Communications has launched a recruiting effort to expand its workforce. The prepaid telecom products distributor is hiring marketing and sales, customer service and accounting professionals. The staff expansion reflects the 9278's steady growth. Last winter, the young company extended its operations into the overseas market with branches in Canada and the United Kingdom and has opened branch offices stateside, in Fairlawn, N.J., and Richmond, Va.

* Ingram Micro Inc. rolled out commissioned wireless bundles to its VARs in September, thanks to fresh deals with VoiceStream Wireless Corp./T-Mobile and Sprint Corp.

The value-added distributor will combine carrier services with wireless equipment. Ingram Micro VARs will earn up-front, one-time commission on the services.

VARs can sell Sprint's just-completed next-generation PCS network, which allows users to access information at speeds up to 144kbps, and can offer a new suite of Sprint PCS Vision devices, including a PCS phone by Handspring and wireless connectivity cards for laptops and PDAs.

VoiceStream will offer VARs its global GSM/GPRS high-speed voice and data footprint, Wi-Fi wireless broadband network and portfolio of integrated wireless devices. The T-Mobile deal also includes multifunctional devices such as Research in Motion's BlackBerry 5810, a wireless handheld e-mail solution with integrated phone, Novatel's G100 PC card, Nokia's 9290 Communicator, T-Mobile's Pocket PC Phone Edition, the voice-enabled PDA device and Handspring's Treo 180 and 270.

Also, the company will roll out a Sierra Wireless/Sprint/Citrix bundle that lets mobile users access company networks, including sales force automation, intranets, customer relationship management, field service dispatch and other core business information systems.

* ECI Conference Call Service LLC has added vice presidents, of wholesale/channel partners and marketing. Mark Vesper, named vice president of wholesale/channel partners, has about 20 years of experience in telecommunications, advanced technology and Web development firms, most recently with VeriSign Inc. Sarita Fernandes, named vice president of marketing, is responsible for marketing and product management of retail and wholesale services. He comes to ECI from WinStar Communications Inc.

* Ricochet Networks Inc. has re-launched the Ricochet high-speed wireless Internet service in Denver, the first of many planned markets. The service and the special modem required to access it is available via agents, retail and direct sales. RNI is seeking partnerships with communities and local government to revive the Ricochet network where it once existed and to install new networks in underserved areas. The Ricochet network, built in 21 cities, had at least 51,000 subscribers when it shut down service last August. The Ricochet intellectual property and certain assets were acquired by RNI in November 2001.