Cisco pushes unified communications into small businesses
By: By Joan Engebretson
The move toward unified communications systems that integrate voice with messaging, email and other applications got further support today with an announcement from Cisco that targets small businesses...
Verizon sells PC support service
By: By Carol Wilson
Verizon is selling advanced PC support as a service to its customers, offering consumers and businesses unlimited support for a $9.99 monthly fee. The new service creates a revenue stream from what has been a cost center for high-speed Internet access providers...
AT&T offers managed Web security
By: By Carol Wilson
AT&T today announced a new managed security service, offering businesses large and small network-based protection from Web threats, including viruses, worms and other malware...
BT innovation search goes global
By: By Carol Wilson
Faced with the challenge of injecting growth into what had been a staid company, BT has embarked on several ambitious plans. The most ambitious, BT’s 21st Century Network, is well known throughout telecom for its stated aim of moving all of BT’s services onto an Internet Protocol backbone in time to shut down the “old” PSTN by 2011...
Update: Networx deal goes to AT&T, Verizon, Qwest
By: By Carol Wilson
The General Services Administration today awarded AT&T, Verizon and Qwest Communications the right to compete for the next-generation services of federal agencies...
Analyst predicts cable move away from DVR
By: By Carol Wilson
Even as digital video recorders become more popular as a service offering from cable and telecom service providers, they may be facing a limited future, one leading analyst is saying...
Best Buy acquires Speakeasy
By: By Carol Wilson
Retail giant Best Buy said today it will acquire service provider Speakeasy, a competitive player in the data and voice arena, for $97 million...
CTIA: Qualcomm applies Rev. A to telemedicine
By: By Kevin Fitchard
ORLANDO—Qualcomm is betting that the quality of service features built into its EV-DO Rev. A technology has more uses than VoIP and video conferencing. Qualcomm is targeting the technology into physician presence technologies in telemedicine, a vertical sector which requires not just a broadband connection but an assured connection due to the life-and-death medical situations unwired doctors would face...
Five big mistakes carriers make when planning a next-gen network
By: By Dr. Mark H. Mortensen, VPIsystems Inc.
Carriers sometimes have problems avoiding the five critical mistakes that are easiest to make in planning and rolling out that next-generation network--mistakes that mean the difference between a successful rollout and becoming a cautionary tale for your competitors. Here’s how leading service providers, already deeply engaged in implementing their next-generation networks, are avoiding them...
FCC to explore Net neutrality
By: By Carol Wilson
In a move being applauded by players on both sides of the Net neutrality debate, the Federal Communications Commission today said it is beginning an inquiry into “market practices” in the broadband services arena...
VON: Linksys expands small business focus
By: By Carol Wilson
SAN JOSE--Although best known for its home router market dominance, Linksys started its life focusing on small business and is staying true to its roots...
VON: New MetaSwitch portal aimed at ease-of-use
By: By Carol Wilson
SAN JOSE--MetaSwitch today announced a newly redesigned Web portal that will allow its service provider customers to offer their subscribers an easy way to buy and use next-generation voice services...
XO’s NextLink expands into Phoenix
By: By Kevin Fitchard
XO Communications today launched broadband wireless services in Phoenix, bringing its NextLink wireless footprint to 10 major cities...
SureWest Communications puts broadband on sure footing
By: By Tim McElligott
SureWest Communications reported fourth quarter earnings today highlighting an 18% increase in broadband revenue that took the broadband segment to its first full quarter of positive EBITDA...
Updated: AT&T announces global expansion
By: By Carol Wilson
AT&T today is detailing plans to spend $750 million on improving its global IP backbone to enable the company to “enhance and expand its portfolio of retail and wholesale” services...
Verizon gets California video franchise
By: By Carol Wilson
Verizon became the first to capitalize on California’s new statewide video franchise law, today receiving the Golden State’s first statewide franchise, only eight days after filing its application...
Verizon beefs up phishing, spyware defense
By: By Carol Wilson
Verizon Business today introduced new tools to help enterprise customers ward off phishing, spyware and virus attacks by exerting more control over how employees use the Internet...
AT&T expands U-verse, Homezone
By: By Carol Wilson and Kevin Fitchard
AT&T advanced its video initiatives on two fronts, launching its U-verse IPTV service in Dallas-Fort Worth and adding new functions to Homezone, its integrated voice-data-satellite TV bundle...
XO adds IP-VPNs
By: By Carol Wilson
XO Communications continues to fill out the data service portfolio on its national network, today announcing IP virtual private networks based on multi-protocol label switching (MPLS), targeting mid-sized businesses with between five and 20 locations...
CenturyTel rates high for online service
By: By Dan O'Shea
Louisiana telco CenturyTel rated higher than any other U.S. service provider in a study of online customer service conducted by consulting and research firm the Customer Respect Group...
Comptel Reporter’s Notebook
By: By Carol Wilson
In the interest of full disclosure, I need to say right up front that I hate going to events in Las Vegas...
Comptel: Qwest beefs up wholesale portal
By: By Carol Wilson
LAS VEGAS--Qwest Communications International today announced a new Web-based portal for self-service and management of its wholesale products, giving customers access to more of its data services through self-service, as well as adding more detailed network information...
Comptel: Globix goes Neon
By: By Carol Wilson
LAS VEGAS--Globix Corp. this week announced a name change. Two years after Globix merged with Neon, the company has sold off most of the Globix hosting assets and decided to become Neon Communications Group, trading under the stock ticker “NGI” instead of “GEX.”...
Comptel: Vanco finds success with NetDirect
By: By Carol Wilson
LAS VEGAS--Since launching its NetDirect portal at Comptel last October, Vanco is finding the appeal of global point and click provisioning to be very appealing...
Comptel: AFS continues expansion with IDACOMM
By: By Carol Wilson
LAS VEGAS--Under the radar of some of the larger consolidations in the competitive carrier industry, American Fiber Systems is quietly building a CLEC empire in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Most recently, the company completed its acquisition of IDACOMM, adding the Nevada cities of Las Vegas, Reno, and Carson City as well as Boise, Ida., to its list of cities served...
