New XO IP Solutions

XO Communications, a leading provider of 21st century communications for businesses and communications service providers, today announced new additions and enhancements to its IP services portfolio to provide businesses and enterprises with more choices to converge data and voice communications over a single IP network infrastructure.

The new offerings – XO SIP, XO One iPBX and XOptions Flex with XO MPLS IP-VPN – expand the XO IP portfolio to five solutions and strengthen XO’s position as a leading provider of converged networking and IP Telephony solutions for businesses and large enterprises. The XO IP portfolio consists of XOptions Flex, XO SIP, XO One iPBX, XO MPLS IP-VPN and XOptions Flex with MPLS IP-VPN.

Verizon Business Provides Rate That Gives Wholesale Customers Greater Ability to Manage Costs

Verizon Business is offering wholesale customers an additional pricing option that provides a detailed breakdown of the rates that are used to calculate the customers’ monthly bills for Verizon Business’ network services.

The new pricing option, Operating Company Number (OCN)-Based Billing, provides rates based on the underlying local exchange carrier (LEC) and geographic region for delivering voice and IP calls over the Verizon Business global network. This enables wholesale customers to better manage costs. 

TelePacific Communications “Fastest Growing Private Companies in America”

TelePacific Communications has been named one of Inc. Magazine’s 2007 “Fastest Growing Private Companies in America.” The rankings are based on TelePacific’s impressive 294.5% revenue growth from 2003 through 2006.TelePacific ranked highly on several category lists, including:

• 39 in the Top 100 Companies nationwide by Dollars of Growth;
• 51 in the Top Companies in Telecommunications by Percent of Growth; and
• 67 in the Top Companies in the Los Angeles area by Percent of Growth.

Free411 on Skype

Jingle Networks’ 1-800-FREE411 service will now give U.S. Skype users (using Skype 3.5 for Windows) a free directory assistance service without the $2 to $3 fees typically charged by telephone carriers for regular 411 calls.

With over 200 million calls to 1-800-FREE411, Skype users can join the millions of other U.S.-based consumers who are already taking advantage of 1-800-FREE411’s free directory assistance service. Skype users will get the same caller experience that all 1-800-FREE411 callers receive, while also receiving a Skype alert containing the requested phone number, which allows them to click the phone number link and connect directly to the listing via a SkypeOut™ call. Skype users can facilitate easy connection to 1-800-FREE411 by adding “Free411USA” to their Skype contact list.

Qwest Furnishes IKEA

Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) today announced a renewed agreement to provide IKEA North America Services, LLC with voice and data services for 32 locations nationwide. IKEA has been a Qwest customer for more than eight years and recently renewed its agreements because the technologies Qwest delivers have increased IKEA’s efficiency in its retail stores, distribution centers, contact center, and at its corporate headquarters in Pennsylvania.”Qwest has been an extremely dependable partner for our business, and we’re pleased with both the technology we receive as well as the ongoing relationship and service we get with the account team,” said Bill Wolff, corporate network manager, IKEA North America Services, LLC. “For years we’ve relied on Qwest’s national fiber network as the backbone of our communications infrastructure.”

“IKEA has grown significantly over the last eight years, and we’ve been able to scale to meet their needs as their business takes off,” said Tom Richards, executive vice president, business markets group for Qwest. “Businesses often expand rapidly, and Qwest is a nimble service provider that can keep up with their fast-paced growth.”

10 Steps for Successful VoIP Implemention

1. To help information technology and telecommunications managers address successful VoIP implementation, XO Communications has developed two educational resources:
   The XO webcast, “What Every Small and Medium Sized Business Should Know About Implementing VoIP”, and companion XO white paper, “Ten Steps to a Successful VoIP Implementation: What Every Business Should Know”. 

Microsoft Call for Free powered by Verizon

Consumers searching online at http://maps.live.com for businesses such as area restaurants, hotels or car dealerships can now conveniently click to make free PC-to-phone calls to many advertisers, using the power of the Verizon Business IP network.

XO XOptions Flex over 10,000 business customers

XO ’s XOptions® Flex, its award-winning VoIP services bundle, now supports more than 10,000 business customers in more than fifty-five major metropolitan markets across the United States.

Launched two years ago, XOptions Flex has rapidly grown to be one of the most widely deployed VoIP services bundle for small and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises with remote offices. As an integrated IP services solution, XOptions Flex offers businesses all the benefits of IP with enhanced features, functionality and value for voice, Internet access and web hosting services all in one simple package.

Wal-mart deal with Skype

Wal-Mart has come to an agreement to sell Skype products in there store in a special section, like handsets, webcams and other Skype equipment.

“This relationship with Wal-Mart will increase exposure for Skype and our hardware partners in a single dedicated Internet communications section,” Don Albert, vice president and general manager of Skype North America, said in a statement. “Our research suggests that when users add a Skype-certified accessory like a headset, handset or Webcam, it greatly enhances their experience, and they use Skype more to connect with family, friends and business colleagues.”

Read the story on ZD-net.

Covad launches Bonded T1

Covad has launched a Bonded T1 service for small businesses and distributed enterprises. Covad only offers 2xT1 bonded, so that would give a speed of 3Mbps.  Covad bonded T1  is available nationwide throughout the same footprint as Covad’s standard T1 service.

 

Qwest Q1 2007

Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) today reported solid first quarter 2007 results highlighted by sequential and year-over-year margin expansion as well as significant net income and earnings per share growth. For the quarter, Qwest reported earnings of $240 million, or $0.12 per diluted share compared with earnings of $88 million, or $0.05 per diluted share in the first quarter 2006.

Verizon’s VoIP pattents and Vonage / Verizon

This post will serve as a container for links to posts and articles regarding Verizon’s VoIP patterns and Vonage’s infringement.

 Techdirt: Prior Art On Verizon’s VoIP Patents

Techdirt: Judge ruling on Vonage