SAN JOSE -- Global Crossing has expanded both the reach and the functionality of its Global Crossing VoIP Local Service, the company announced this week at Spring VON 2007. It has added 100 new rate centers, including 83 in the U.S., and launched local service in Rome, Milan and in Hong Kong.

The feature enhancements include providing caller name delivery for both enterprise and wholesale customers, and creating an automated interface for wholesale customers so they can both make real-time service orders and give their customers the opportunity to do the same.

“This is a key functionality for our wholesale customers,” said Al DiGabriele, vice president of product management for voice services. “They can incorporate it into the Web portals they provide. A customer can go online, and make a real-time query to determine if we can port their number, and if the answer is yes, they can place the order real-time as well.”

Having automated the external process, he added, Global Crossing is working on automating the internal processes as well, to speed up service delivery to customers. DiGabriele expects that process to be completed over the next four to six months.

Global Crossing continues to expand the reach of its VoIP offering, adding rate centers and new countries, he added.

Separately, the company announced that Grand Central, a personal communications company, is using Global Crossing services.