Source: www.voip-news.com

Los Angeles County has signed a $233 million, five-year contract with AT&T to provide the county’s voice and data services.

AT&T will manage and maintain the IP network and MRS.

According to the company:

AT&T will continue to provide all voice and data services to the County of Los Angeles including Frame Relay and Asynchronous Transfer Mode data transport; remote access; Managed Internet Service; Virtual Private Network (VPN); all local and long distance voice, Web, video and teleconferencing services; and AT&T Voice DNASM.

AT&T Voice DNA, a network-based Voice over IP (VoIP) service, provides the benefits of a premises-based telephony service, while maintaining flexibility, control and reduced capital expenditures. The service will enable the County of Los Angeles to converge data and voice applications on the same reliable, secure and scalable network infrastructure. Additionally, the service will provide consistent Internet service and secure access to the county network and client records, whether employees are using terminal or remote access.

“The County of Los Angeles was seeking to converge voice and data networks and to gain a 24-hour managed services environment,” said Tom Lang, program manager for the County of Los Angeles. “Converged IP services will give us increased management efficiency and greater functionality.”

The contract can be extended for up to 12 years.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Release 2 has been released by Microsoft.

“Office Communications Server 2007 R2, debuting just one year after the Microsoft unified communications launch, highlights the pace of innovation that is possible with software,” said Stephen Elop, president of the Microsoft Business Division at Microsoft. “This new release puts Microsoft on a rapid path to deliver voice software that does much more than a network private branch exchange (PBX) and with much less cost.”

According to Microsoft:

Since the solution became available in 2007, businesses have begun migrating their workers off their PBXs to Office Communications Server for all their telephony needs. Customers such as Royal Dutch Shell plc are already taking a load off their PBXs by using Office Communications Server and Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 for mobile and remote workers in place of PBX phones to provide global employees with innovative communications solutions to quickly and efficiently reach their colleagues and help reduce operational costs.

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

Attention WalMart (and Circuit City) customers….

AT&T today announced agreements with Circuit City and Wal-Mart to sell AT&T U-verseSM TV and AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet in more than 600 retail locations beginning this month.

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

I’m getting calls and emails from friends asking me if it’s really true.  Finally, the White House makes it official.

Yes, George W. Bush visited the Olmos Soda Fountain yesterday. 

Here’s even more proof!

In the midst of several trillion
dollars of lost wealth, he had time to stop by for a malt and visit to
the editorial headquarters for this blog.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Verizon Business now has an Internet protocol termination service. It’s available now on a limited basis.

According to Verizon:

The move to offer an IP-based toll-free termination option comes as wholesale customers and their customers transition to an all-IP network architecture, driven by growth in IP applications such as voice over IP (VoIP).

This service comes with new online features — via Verizon’s wholesale Web portal, Portfolio — that allow access to electronic order-entry systems, call-detail records and online bill presentation.

Users can choose from Access-Based Billing and Operating Company Number (OCN)-Based Billing.

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

This is not a joke.


   

President George W. Bush stopped today to what serves as my editorial offices for this blog.

Read the story from the San Antonio "Express News" here.

My Robot Creative pal, Lara August, called me this morning to have breakfast, but I couldn’t do it because of another meeting. 

Then, I hopped over to see PodCast Ready’s Dean McCall for another meeting. 

Then, my stomach starts growling and  I decide to hop over to Olmos Pharmacy for lunch.

En route down US 281, I am driving by the airport, and see Air Force One taking off. 

Arriving to the Pharmacy 20 minutes later, proprietor, Betty Garza,
informs me that our fearless leader of the free world, Secret Service
in tow, stopped by and had a chocolate malt with First Lady, Laura Bush.

I guess when you are the President of the U.S., you can pretty much order up anything you want. 

So it really says quite a bit about Betty’s place, where she’s run a tight ship for 35 years.

Over the last 3 years, I’ve been doing lots of breakfast meetings, lots of interviews, and lots of posts at the Pharmacy. 

Sorry I missed you, Mr. President. 

And thumbs up to Betty for having Mr. Bush pick her place as the place in town (or the world) for a real home made malt.

photo (c)  San Antonio Express News

Source: www.voip-news.com

A new service from DeFi Mobile allows users to make and receive unlimited phone calls worldwide through a WiFi connection. DeFi Global Access is a subscription-based service that connects users to DeFi Mobile’s carrier-grade, global IP network for a flat rate of $40.

“DeFi Global Access members experience the freedom of unlimited global voice and data connection without the fear of shocking international long-distance and roaming fees, the frustration of juggling SIM cards, and fumbling with alternative work-arounds,” said Jeff Rice, Chief Executive Officer and co-Founder of DeFi Mobile. “DeFi liberates business and international travellers who are commonly financially gouged when crossing political and geographic borders. Relying on DeFi, our members and their businesses can save thousands in voice and data roaming fees, while enjoying better voice quality and support service than other networks provide.”

Has anyone tried this service? What’s your experience?

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

As a messaging center, the AT&T HomeManager does well with traditional voice messages and falls way short
if you are trying to use it as an email device.

As you can see from the photo above, there are a variety of menu options that let you review missed calls, messages and more.

As for using the HomeManager as an eMail client- well, it’s just not very good.  The email loads slowly, and it’s hard to write even a simple message

Source: www.voip-news.com

Ramshyam Communications Limited has lowered its prices in hope so drawing more small businesses to take advantage of their call center outsourcing services.

“Ramshyam has lowered its offshore call center fees because we feel strongly about supporting our existing and future clients during these difficult times,” stated Sandeep Periwal, founder and CEO of Ramshyam Communications Limited. “Yes, it will have an effect on our own profits, but the current economic climate in the U.S. requires businesses to take drastic measures to keep their margins intact. That can only be achieved by reducing costs, and that’s where Ramshyam Communications Limited steps in.”

The Mumbai-based company offers a full range of call center services, including phone support, e-mail answering, and live chat support

“Customer service and strong business ethics have always been the cornerstones of Ramshyam Communications Limited’s offshore call center services,” said Periwal. “Lowering our prices to help our clients pull through a recession period is the most obvious way we can make sure our customer service and business ethics are the best in the call center industry. Lowered call center expenses free up our clients’ resources to focus on keeping their businesses viable right now.”

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

If you are looking to compare U-verse Voice to what the cable guys are doing, click here.

Source: www.voip-news.com

There is a great article on TimesOnline of the UK — it’s one of those things that takes all the guesswork out of choosing the right service.

See, after testing out different VoIP services, the TimesOnline named the best VoIP services for a variety of uses. What should you use if use Wi-Fi only? What about for an easy install? How about to use on an iPhone? Totally handy.

Check it out here.

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

I am still doing some testing of U-verse Voice in my home. 

Overall, it’s going well and I really do like it, but I need more time to play around with it.

If you are a journalist or industry analyst seeking a real world view on U-verse voice, email me: alan at weinkrantz dot com or you  log on to http://letscall.me/u-verse-voice-review and it will ring my AT&T / Apple iPhone.

note: to use this service, just type in your phone number when you hit the landing page noted above.  The service calls you and then it calls me on my phone.