Posted: 9/2004
Channel News
Qwest Launches Qwest OneFlex to Channel
Qwest Communications International Inc. has introduced its national VoIP service for business customers; the technology will be sold through the companys Business Partners program. The solution, called Qwest OneFlex, gives customers local and long-distance voice service as well as high-speed Internet access. Users need only add VoIP phones.
Qwest says OneFlex allows customers to tailor their services to meet their business needs. By using a Web interface, customers point-andclick for features such as conference callings, adding new users, settingup voicemail and more.
Kathy Hickey, marketing director for QBPP, says Qwest is rolling out a VoIP certification program for its partners in the September timeframe.
While she fully expects some partners to test out of further training, she says the program is intended to identify as well as cultivate the crime de la crime of convergent partners to team with the Qwest direct sales force in bringing OneFlex to market. Hickey says partners have been briefed on the OneFlex product since May and some have taken on-site training to sell the products.
Qwest OneFlex was first turned up at the beginning of August to business customers in Boise, Idaho; Denver; Minneapolis; and Phoenix.
By the end of 2004, the product is planned to be available in the following metropolitan areas: Albuquerque, N.M.; Baltimore; Billings, Mont.; Bismarck, N.D.; Boston; Casper, Wyo.; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; Los Angeles; New York; Omaha, Neb.;
Orange County, Calif.; Philadelphia; Portland, Ore.; Salt Lake City; San Diego; San Francisco; San Jose, Calif.; Seattle; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Washington, D.C. Qwest will continue to expand OneFlex to additional markets in 2005.
Alcatel Creates Partner Program
IP PBX equipment provider Alcatel has created a partner program that gives resellers a streamlined quotation process and other helpful tools. The program called the Alcatel OmniPCX Enterprise Express (OXEE) revolves around the Alcatel OmniPCX Enterprise IP PBX.
OXEE provides authorized regional and large independent carriers access to the ExpressQuote quotation tool. ExpressQuote outlines a customers equipment requirements based on data that include the number of station lines, voicemail needs and contact center requirements. The online or PC-based interface also supplies a network diagram.
In addition, OXEE offers online training and a configuration wizard, which lets technicians and customers configure the OmniPCX Enterprise system. The tool even can import text files and use applications such as Excel to fill in data fields.
The OXEE program targets customers who have anywhere from 50- 250 users.
X-Change Offers VoIP Leasing
The X-Change Corp. says its wholly owned subsidiary, Innovative Telecommunications Technologies Inc., is rolling out a flexible lease program for the Advanced IP Communications Inc. (AIP) iPBX46 Business Phone System. Innovative Telecommunications is an authorized master value-added reseller for the AIP system.
The X-Change subsidiarys lease program gives traditional carriers and startups an opportunity to build distributed VoIP networks without upfront investment in central office equipment and architecture. Innovative Telecommunications offers custom lease programs of up to five years to customers in its target markets. The company is launching the program in the United States and in parts of Asia.
Our primary market is the small to medium business. These companies find monthly payment programs attractive, says Robert Stevenson, general manager of Innovative Telecommunications Technologies.
All of the companys lease programs include the AIP VoIP Business Phone System, and hardware and software support.
Nuvio Signs Free Flow, Futura
Free Flow Technologies, a telecommunications provider to businesses, has chosen branded VoIP from Nuvio Corp. for its customers in the Washington, D.C. area, and startup wireless ISP Futura Technologies also has joined Nuvios private-label partner program.
For Free Flow, Nuvio will handle all aspects of billing, customer equipment provisioning and support through its Powered by Nuvio branding program. As the VoIP market takes off, smart broadband providers are bundling [VoIP] with their standard offering for a more complete package, says Jason Talley, president and CEO of Nuvio.
Nuvio also will support Futura Technologies through Powered by Nuvio, giving the company a branded Web site, private-label billing, referrals coordination, technology support and marketing materials.
As an emerging wireless Internet service provider, we realize that this is the time to take advantage of a revolutionary market, says Josh Garrett, president and CEO of Futura Technologies.
Nuvios private-label program provides solutions that will enhance the services we provide to our customers and elevates our company to the next level.
Nuvios partner program helps high-speed Internet providers offer VoIP to consumers and small to medium-sized business.
Nuvio is cultivating partnerships with broadband providers, network integrators, technology VARs and retailers.
Telrex, Artisoft Offer Call Recording
Telrex, developer of VoIP call recording and monitoring software for SMBs, and Artisoft Inc., provider of open systems IP PBX and call center products, have released a packetbased call recording and monitoring solution for Artisofts TeleVantage, an open systems IP PBX.
The relationship, formed under Artisofts Open Communication Alliance, allows both companies to promote partnership solutions to their respective channels.
The companies say the integration of TeleVantage with Telrexs CallRex provides businesses with an affordable tool to improve productivity and enhance customer service.
CallRex uses packet sniffing technology to record calls through TeleVantage. With the integrated solution, calls can be recorded and monitored as needed or via automatic triggers, and can be flagged with additional information. Specific recordings can then be located via multiple search criteria such as date/time, user name, inbound number, caller ID, recording group, or flagged name or value.
Multiple playback options allow users to listen to recorded phone calls through the phone or through computer speakers.
Recorded calls can be viewed by day, week, month, or custom date range. Managers also can assign monitoring, recording and playback rights on a peruser basis, and can track calls from multiple remote locations through one interface.
PowerNet Global Launches ATM-Grade SLAs
Aleron Broadband Services, the wholesale subsidiary of PowerNet Global Communications (PNG), has launched ATM-grade SLAs for IP services for its wholesale customers purchasing VoIP, IP VPNs and transit.
PNG/Aleron is now guaranteeing worst-case latency and jitter levels for the industrys first ATM-Grade IP-VPNs (point-to-point worst-case latency under 65ms and worst-case jitter under 0.5ms). In addition, PNG/Aleron guarantees that point-to-point worst-case latency and jitter for VoIP SLAs will never exceed 65ms and 0.5ms, respectively.
The services were now offering provide SLAs for IP that exceed those of ATM, says Aleron Broadband Services General Manager Christopher Bradish. The company plans to add several premium services in the coming months, he says.
The upgrade is made possible by Aleron Broadbands recent deployment of Axiowave Networks XCR128 service convergence router across its IP network.
PNG says the ATM-grade SLAs will let customers migrate from legacy services to IP. Our Toll-Quality VoIP service benefits not only our business customers, but also our wholesale customers who need to interconnect disparate VoIP islands and extend their reach on a global basis, says Bernie Stevens, president and CEO of PNG. At the same time, our ATM-grade transit service lets customers replace their rigid, expensive leased-line circuits with a more flexible, usage-based IP service that offers performance equivalent to that of leased-line.
PNG customers can expand without investing in physical infrastructure, and the tiered SLAs let them select services appropriate to specific applications.
Users also can consolidate transit services on a single access port into PNG/Alerons IP infrastructure.
wIPphone Targets Residential, Small Business Customers
New York-based Worldwide Telco has introduced its Worldwide IP Phone or wIPphone service for residential and small business customers.
The company is offering potential buyers a commitment-free trial with a free download of the X-PRO SoftPhone and 30 free minutes to more than 45 countries.
Worldwide Telco executives say business users can add wIPphone to their current office phone systems, and cut international and domestic travel phone costs by using wIPphone on their laptops with a headset and any type of Internet connection.
wIPphone rate plans are customizable and provide unlimited free wIPphone to wIPphone calls; allow users to order United States or international phone numbers; have multilingual customer support; allow call hunting; and more.
wIPphone is sold through authorized resellers and distributors. WorldWide Telco also is expanding its private-label partnerships.
Yak WorldCity Rollout on Track
Yak Communications Inc. continues to roll out its WorldCity VoIP services to residential and SMB consumers, and was on target for full commercial deployment worldwide by early this month. WorldCity will be available through agents and in retail stores.
We currently have consumers making inbound and outbound calls using both IP phones and regular telephones, with operational connectivity between high speed cable, IP and PSTN networks, and it works well, says Charles Zwebner, Yaks president and CEO.
Yak will release WorldCity with features, including caller ID, call forwarding, call waiting, three-way calling, voicemail, message waiting, personal call manager online portal and more. The company says 911 operator services will follow soon after. Pricing for the bundled services including local, long-distance and basic features should range from $19.99 to $34.99.
NetFabric Signs Master Agreement with ABP Technology
NetFabric Corp., a developer of VoIP products, has signed a master distribution agreement with Dallas-based ABP Technology, which markets VoIP products through specialized resellers, ISPs and carriers. ABP will distribute NetFabrics new Cashmere line of VoIP Call Routers and IP Service Adapters.
The Cashmere unit will VoIP-enable any four- and eight-line PBX or key telephone system, immediately creating toll and line cost savings of up to 50 percent, says Robert Messer, president and CEO of ABP.
The implementation of VoIP connectivity is made so easy that its literally Plug and Play.
The Cashmere line works with legacy PBX equipment. NetFabric says IP service providers can place a Cashmere unit between the PBX and the central office lines, and automatically start routing traffic to their IP service for long-distance and international call termination.
Cashmere offers additional features including a screen pop-up of Caller ID information on PCs on the companys local area network and access to services such as a corporate do-not-call list.
ISG Readies VoIP Program
Interconnect Services Group (ISG) says it soon will rollout a VoIP product for sale through its agents. Few details were available at press time.
The interconnect/integrator is able to function as a carrier with in-house billing to sell VoIP or PBX systems without increasing end users expenses. This is done through ISGs division Network Billing Systems (NBS).
We recognize that VoIP has finally gained the type of traction in the marketplace, which has long been anticipated and projected, says Jon Kaufman, CEO of ISG. We see limitless potential for this service, whose applications are only limited by ones imagination, and have developed a new marketing paradigm and end-user value proposition to have NBS bring VoIP to market. NBSs assets uniquely position it to structure our enduser offerings in the way this service requires. Because of the complexity of VoIP vis-a-vis traditional telephony, our history of partnering with the agent channel by offering the ongoing support of seasoned sales and technical people throughout the sales cycle and during the entirety of the end user relationship will serve us well.
CommPartners Enables Cross-Country Footprint
Hosted VoIP wholesaler CommPartners has introduced its NFL city footprint. By mid-2005, the company intends its network to cover population centers served by Tier 1 through Tier 4 carriers in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. The service will enable access to more than 8,500 local calling rate centers, the company says.
CommPartners hosted VoIP services are designed for ISPs, IT integrators, MSOs, IOCs, FTTH and overbuilding entities CommPartners has chosen technology vendors Telica and BroadSoft Inc. to provide Class 4/5 switching and routing, as well as advanced VoIP applications such as IP Centrex, hosted PBX and conferencing.
CommPartners also operates a Syndeo Corp. Syion softswitch that is PacketCablecompliant for the cable market. The company has selected Acme Packet to provide session border control.
Meanwhile, Internap Network Services Corp. will carry CommPartners VoIP traffic between broadband end users and CommPartners Super PoPs, which house the companys routers, softswitches and session border controllers. Internap provides route control technology and IP solutions; it will offer CommPartners customers 100 percent Internet availability through its multihomed architecture. CommPartners says its ability to avoid Internet log jams also allows it to eliminate most of the latency and jitter associated with Internet calls.
CommPartners planned to file CLEC certifications in all 50 states by the end of August.
IPtimize Hosting Services Through 6DegreesIP
Master agent IPtimize Inc. is selling a hosted IP PBX service using New Global Telecom Inc.s 6DegreesIP product suite. IPtimize plans to offer business customers long-distance calling, DID telephone numbers and more. The company says using 6DegreesIP will help its customers save money and increase functionality.
i2 Releases VoIP Phone with Cellular Bridging
i2Telecom International Inc. has unveiled the InternetTalker
EVoIP-4310 with cellular bridging. The phone is a 4-channel microgateway for
businesses that allows users to make inexpensive worldwide VoIP calls from any
cell phone. i2 also says Global Direct Inward Dial assigns a unique U.S. phone
number to each channel, regardless of the units physical location, and that
Dynamic Media Transfer Rate technology adapts the InternetTalkers data rate
to maintain the call quality under varying network conditions.
The phone also is compatible with previous i2Telecom products. It is available through VARs.
New Global Telecom Enhances 6DegreesIP
New Global Telecom (NGT) has released version 3.0 of its 6DegreesIP managed wholesale product suite, giving service providers a turnkey solution for the business or residential markets.
The new release includes upgrades such as a premium residential/SOHO TelPack feature package; retail OSS functionality for online ordering, billing and customer management; flexibility offered by VoiceConnect and VoiceSelect origination and termination services; on-demand conferencing for audio and Web conferencing services; and more.
Interest from a wide range of service providers has confirmed the advantages of our managed wholesale VoIP business model, says Caitlin Clark-Zigmond, director of VoIP product management for NGT. Our focus will continue to be on product enhancements that facilitate successful market penetration and growth for our service provider customers.
CAL Comm Chooses NGT IP Solutions
CAL Communications Inc. (CAL Comm), a reseller of telephone systems and long-distance services and a systems integrator, is using IP solutions from New Global Telecom (NGT) to deliver VoIP services to businesses. NGT is a provider of outsourced switching and network operations services. Its 6DegreesIP product suite will enable CAL Comm to deliver VoIP nationally and internationally.
CAL Comm initially is focusing on sales to Chicago-area SMBs, including the companys 2,500 end-users. The company plans to expand to more cities over the next two years. As a Hispanic-owned Certified Minority Business Enterprise, we will be marketing hosted IP solutions to governmental agencies as well as to the Hispanic business community and other businesses, says Carlos A. Lopez, CAL Comms president.
PointOne Lets SIPphone Users Receive PSTN Calls
VoIP operator PointOne is providing enhanced network access to SIPphone Inc. users who will now be reachable from the PSTN on local inward dial numbers in 18 U.S. markets.
SIPphone, a company from MP3.com and Lindows founder Michael Robertson, does not charge customers connect to other SIP-based phones.
The enhanced access will require SIPphone users anywhere in the world to use the Instant Messenger Connect function of the PointOne Global Bridge network.
SIPphone is a service based on the VoIP standard, SIP, which enables two or more people to make phone calls to each other using the Internet to carry the call.
CloseCall Offers VoIP Service Via Agents
CloseCall America has jumped on the VoIP train with its CloseCall VOIP Phone Service, available to consumers and businesses with high-speed Internet access. A Plug & Connect box connects any phone with highspeed Internet to CloseCalls service; software or special dialing is not required.
Available through agents and directly, CloseCall VOIP Phone Service starts at $4.99 per month. Other packages are available for unlimited service, including unlimited international calling packages.
Customers can choose telephone numbers from locations all over the world so incoming callers can dial local numbers.
CloseCall VOIP Phone Service customers also can call one another free anywhere in the world. The company provides round-theclock support.
StarNet Expands Wholesale VoiceEclipse
StarNet Inc., a wholesale dialup and VoIP provider, announced in August the expansion of its VoiceEclipse service into new markets, adding areas of Texas, Arizona, Southern California, New York, New Jersey and New Hampshire to its footprint.
Although VoiceEclipse customers can always use the service from anywhere with a broadband connection, our expansion into these new markets allows us to offer phone numbers from more local area codes, as well as the ability to allow customers in these areas to migrate their existing phone numbers to VoiceEclipse service, says Russ Intravartolo, StarNets CEO.
The new markets join Chicago, Providence, Boston, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and additional rate centers in those states, plus Indiana and Michigan.
Centrepoint Adds to TalkSwitch
Centrepoint Technologies, designer and manufacturer of
telephone systems for small business, has introduced the TalkSwitch 48- CVA, a
hybrid telephone system that offers combined access to the PSTN and VoIP.
The TalkSwitch 48-CVA is sold through authorized resellers and online.
Each TalkSwitch 48-CVA unit accommodates up to four callout lines and four VoIP trunks, eight local extensions and eight remote extensions. Up to four units can be networked to make a system with 16 callout lines, 16 VoIP trunks, 32 local extensions and 32 remote extensions per location. The system includes free software updates. The TalkSwitch 48-CVA is SIP-compliant.
The system was created for businesses with 1 to 32 users per location. It includes features such as 3-digit dialing between branches, call transfer among locations, and access to IP network services such as Internet calling. All calls can be made with standard analog phones.
Ring 9 Launches Partner Channel
Florida-based VoIP carrier Ring 9 Communications has opened its partner channel, offering commission rates from 10 percent to 17 percent as well as agent support. The company does not require term or volume commitments from partners or customers.
The carrier plans to add several features during the third quarter of 2004, including Microsoft Outlook Plug-in and SIP 2.0 endpoint integration. Its current features range from Caller ID, local, long-distance, station to station and international calling to find me/follow me, unified messaging and remote calling.
Ring 9 executives say the carrier provides business-quality endto- end call management and nationwide portability.
St. Louis Joins Nuvios Private-Label Program
VoIP provider Nuvio Corp. has entered into a private-label partnership with St. Louis Telecom LLC, an independent telecommunications agency. Through Nuvios Powered by Nuvio partner program, St. Louis will receive a branded Web site, customized marketing materials, private-label billing, customer equipment provisioning and private-label support.
We chose Nuvio because their inclusive VoIP package met all of our requirements for fast entry into the market, and better yet, required no capital investment, says Ruben Chapa, CEO of St. Louis Telecom.
WilTel Selects Telica Softswitch
Carriers carrier WilTel Communications Group Inc. has chosen VoIP switching company Telica Inc.s PLUS softswitch for its IPbased voice services. WilTel says the addition of PLUS allows TDM and VoIP to coexist on WilTels network.
The PLUS architecture gives service providers scalability, TDM, packet, Class 4, and wireline and wireless services. Telica says its PLUS softswitch supports up to 7.5 million calls per hour and contains more than one terabyte of memory to sustain database and routing requirements.
WilTel planned to launch its VoIP Gateway service in the third quarter of 2004, allowing carriers and resellers to interconnect to the WilTel network via Dedicated Internet Access, MPLS IP VPN or peering.
Twister Networks Introduces Newest IP Phone
Twister Networks Inc. has released its new VoIP phone, the i350, available for agents to sell. The VoIP provider, which targets businesses in Asia, China, America and Europe, already offers the i100, i300 and i400 VoIP phones. The i350 features more advanced features than Twisters other phones, including a more ergonomic handset.
Steven Dao, president of Twister Networks, says the company charges new agents $500 to sign up; the fee covers training, account setup, and back-office and technical support. There are other optional costs for access to Twister Networks e-commerce Web site. The company also requires agents to buy 10 phones up-front.
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