Source: www.voip-news.com

There is a new handset coming from TCM Mobile that will work on both the TCM Mobile Cellular VoIP Network and on traditional GSM cellular networks. The dual band phone is scheduled for release in two to three months.

“While our new handset is scheduled for release in two to three months, we can currently take any existing dual band handset available on the market and, together with its manufacturer, embed TCM’s revolutionary, patented software into it. This represents a significant opportunity for these manufacturers to grow sales of their own branded handsets in conjunction with the deployment of TCM’s Cellular VoIP network,” said a TCM Mobile senior executive.

According to TCM Mobile:

With existing dual band handsets currently on the market, the GSM cellular service is the default mode while WiFi is a value added feature allowing for lower cost service in home/office enterprise environments. TCM’s dual band device, however, is the first of its kind whereby the Cellular VoIP service is the default mode while a GSM network can be used when outside TCM’s coverage area.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Hughes Europe has rolled out a HN System solution for Telefonica Espana that offers satellite-based VoIP rural telecommunications services.

“The rapid implementation of our Hughes satellite-based system network enables Telefonica to provide a high-quality and cost-effective communications service to meet its Universal Service Obligation under Spanish law,” said Christopher Britton, managing director of Hughes Europe. “Customers living in rural and remote areas can, for the first time, have access to all the benefits of broadband communications, such as Internet access, data transmission, Fax Group III and access to emergency services,” said Britton.

According to Hughes:

The rural network installation by Hughes is the latest project in a highly successful 15-year relationship working with the Spanish telecoms giant. For Telefonica Espana, the Hughes solution offered the ideal combination of cost-effective equipment performance, lower operational cost, and minimal implementation risk. And, because of the companies’ long-standing relationship, Telefonica had complete confidence in Hughes’ ability to deliver.

The new communications services are made possible through the installation of a second switching centre interconnecting the rural satellite VoIP network to the national telephony network. These services are available to new customers based in remote/rural areas and to existing customers migrating from the existing TRAC network (Telefonia Rural de Acceso Celular — Rural Telephony with Cellular Access) to the satellite-based VoIP network. The network comprises approximately 8,000 terminals, of which 80 percent are residential, 15 percent public telephony for city councils, and 5 percent for small/medium enterprises.

Source: www.voip-news.com

There is a new tool available for commercial maritime operators that can add an additional dedicated VoIP telephone line specifically for crew calling on KVH’s maritime VoIP services. The mini-VSAT Broadband Crew Calling System from KVH Industries

“In the highly competitive commercial maritime industry, offering affordable communications is an easy and effective step to help attract new crew members, improve crew efficiency and satisfaction, and reduce the costs incurred by crew turnover,” explained Brent C. Bruun, KVH’s vice president of sales and business development. “In a recent survey by ShipTalk, Ltd., professional mariners ranked access to a telephone as the second most important facility to have on board a vessel. By adding our crew calling option to a new or existing TracPhone V7 system, vessel owners and operators will take full advantage of their mini-VSAT Broadband service connection while enjoying the benefits to crew morale and retention rates that come when crew members are able to stay in touch with friends and family anywhere on the globe.”

According to KVH:

Adding the crew calling option is a simple process. A dedicated Crew Calling Gateway is connected to the TracPhone V7, thereby establishing a link for a dedicated crew calling phone. Crew members will be able to purchase a calling card from the ship’s captain or buy minutes directly from KVH via credit card. They will then be able to place calls anywhere in the world via this dedicated phone while the ship’s business is handled via the two enhanced VoIP lines that come standard with mini-VSAT Broadband service.

Together with the KVH TracPhone V7, the mini-VSAT Broadband service comprises the first end-to-end 24-inch VSAT hardware, service, and support package available for maritime communications. The mini-VSAT Broadband service currently offers Voice over IP telephone and Internet access as fast as 512 Kbps (upload) and 2 Mbps (download) at fixed monthly rates to mariners throughout North America, the Caribbean, the North Atlantic, Europe, the Northern Pacific, and the Persian Gulf. KVH also recently announced an agreement with SP-JSAT to expand mini-VSAT Broadband coverage into Asia Pacific waters and the Indian Ocean.

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

I still have until June 11 to make a decision on what to do about my AT&T U-verse service.  

Source: www.voip-news.com

EMBARQ has launched EMBARQ Managed IP Telephony service, an always-on managed IP solution with monitoring and alerting, management and support services. The service oversees a business’s voice communications systems including call servers and voicemail servers.

“Unmanaged growth could result in problems with speed, throughput, response time and other issues causing jitter and latency,” said Susan McQueeny-Scholes, Director of Marketing Communications for EMBARQ Business. “Allowing EMBARQ to take care of these issues can help businesses focus on their core competencies while lowering their costs and needs for internal support.”

Here’s the detes of what EMBARQ offers:

EMBARQ(R) MIPT service provides life-cycle support for day-to-day management and monitoring and offers two levels of protection to match the evolving needs of a customer’s enterprise.

Monitoring and Alerting Service
– 24×7×365 device monitoring
– Remote diagnostics and minor remote repairs
– Help desk support with 24×7 live response
– Notification of events through phone, e-mail or both
– Up/down and ticket status
– Monthly traffic and alarm activity reporting

Comprehensive Services
Includes all Monitoring and Alerting Services plus:

– Design and engineering assistance
– Project implementation
– Assigned technical engineer
– Proactive management of alarm monitoring, notification and escalation
– Software management services, including annual major software updates
– On-demand business management reporting through a secure Web portal.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Alpine Access has launched Alpine Access Consulting, a service to help companies set up home-based call centers. The new organization offers insight, advice and support for establishing and managing an at-home call center program.

“The extraordinary benefits offered by the home-based customer service model are impossible to ignore and the increase in demand is proof of that,” said Christopher Carrington, Alpine Access CEO. “Leveraging our expertise to help companies establish their own, internal home-based customer service department is a natural extension to our business. It’s something clients have been requesting for a long time, and we couldn’t ask for a better leader than industry veteran Jim Ball.”

According to Alpine:

The Alpine Access Consulting methodology begins with a cost-benefit analysis and continues through solution development, implementation, operations, performance monitoring and periodic reviews. Whether a company needs help with recruiting, training, workforce management, technology infrastructure, security or any other aspect of operating a home-based agent program, Alpine Access Consulting will develop solutions that are tailor-made for that company.

“From the very start, Alpine Access has been about innovation,” said Jim Ball. “Pioneering new services is how this company was started, so it only makes sense that we are breaking ground with Alpine Access Consulting. I’m looking forward to eliminating the learning curve for other companies and using our experience to help them establish their own programs.”

Interested in starting an at-home call center? Be sure to read up on using VoIP to do it, since that is a huge cost saver.

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

Over the last two years, I have been meeting periodically with San Antonio’s Ed Cross, whose vision of making the city’s urban core a great and fun place to live.  Now with his Vistana ready for move in, Ed decided to go with U-verse that is pre-wired in the building.  Here’s my interview and tour….
The Vistana – Urban Residential High Rise Apartments in San Antonio with AT&T U-verse from Alan Weinkrantz on Vimeo.

Source: www.voip-news.com

We’ve all heard about the Stimulus Plan that President Obama passed soon into his presidency. But what does the influx of money earmarked for IT development actually mean for IT organizations and how should IT org actually optimize their networks this year? How can you apply for grants for your organization?

These questions and more are going to be addressed in a new webinar slated for today at 1 p.m. EST. Hurry and get in on the action. Click here to sign up.

Here’s the detes:

See how Obama’s stimulus plan is spurring IT opportunity in the Government and Education sectors, and hear real-world stories of how IT organizations are optimizing their broadband and wireless, network infrastructure, energy efficiency and security in ’09:

• Economic Stimulus Plan and IT impact in ‘09
• How IT organizations should optimize their networks in ‘09
• Hear real-world stories of how IT organizations are optimizing their broadband, network infrastructure, energy efficiency and security this year
• Key bandwidth, network infrastructure, energy efficiency and security considerations
• Act Now! Get an action plan and tips to apply for your stimulus grant

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

AT&T is getting cooler and hipper by the minute.  Here’s March Tweetness —  a tool that allows the March Madness audience to engage with each other and feed off the excitement and energy surrounding the games.   March Tweetness alllows fans to find, follow and engage with the most exciting March Madness conversations happening in real-time. You can follow specific games, teams, players, fan groups.

Oh…. follow me on Twitter @alanweinkrantz

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

AT&T is once again disrupting the cable and satellite companies as they illustrate what IP communications can do. As my pal, Jeff Pulver, used to tell me, "on IP networks, video is just an application."  Case in point is AT&T offering customers the chance to follow and participate in College Basketball Playoffs.  

Here’s what you do:  To set up your brackets for College Basketball from Yahoo! Sports,  log in at att.net and click on "Sports" to pick the teams you think will advance. You can complete your bracket anytime between when the brackets are announced until the first game tips off. Once the tournament begins, U-verse TV customers can easily track the accuracy of their team picks by viewing their brackets on their U-verse TV screen. Correct picks will be highlighted in green and losing picks will be highlighted in red.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Does the US need a national policy on broadband for businesses? Larissa Herda, chairwoman, CEO and president of tw telecom thinks so. And she thinks that Congress and the FCC should establish it as a way to pave the road of innovation and create jobs.

“We must enable the enterprise with technological solutions that will propel and accelerate growth,” said Herda. “We can continue the path of the last decade, permitting consolidation and deregulation to limit competition and forestall innovation. Or, we can develop a meaningful broadband policy for businesses, and truly unleash the power of competition for the benefit of the entire U.S. economy.

While spurring job growth and strengthening business is important, is this the role government should really be playing? And furthermore, aren’t there pressing national issues for Congress to address before setting policy on business broadband? How do you even do that?

“Demand for bandwidth is growing – exponentially,” Herda said. “Yet, access to the end user customers and the buildings is generally constrained – limited to the facilities available only from the incumbent. This limited access often means higher prices and less innovation, which inflicts harm not just on our business, but more importantly on the hospitals, schools, banks, and government agencies on which our nation depends for economic progress.”

According to tw telecom:

Herda urged the assembly to fight for a national business broadband policy that includes three critical points — effective regulation of Special Access, including Ethernet services, and UNE last-mile facilities; interconnection for IP voice and data services; and a reform or elimination of the forbearance process.