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Connected Planet Online » Unfiltered Blog
by Ed GubbinsSeptember 23rd, 2009
Though telecom carriers in the content delivery networking (CDN) space are quick to point to their networks as differentiators, they will have to climb the service stack – developing more sophisticated service features – to compete.
That was some of the advice from Dan Rayburn, principal analyst with Frost & Sullivan, in a recent Telephony Webcast that you can replay here. (more…)
No Comments Related Topics: All Stories, Business Services |
by Rich KarpinskiSeptember 2nd, 2009
If you work on a Mac, you probably are familiar with Parallels, the company and software that lets Mac users run the Windows operating system and applications in so-called “virtualized” fashion. In recent weeks, the privately-held Parallels announced a new app to help making a Windows-to-Mac switch easier and another update helping users run Windows and Linux side-by-side.
But for all the attention the vendor’s desktop virtualization business gets — including its success fueling visions of a possible IPO sometime soon – Parallels also does a healthy business providing hosting companies, including telecom service providers, with an industrial strength platform for automating, virtualizing and provisioning managed services and new cloud computing applications.
No Comments Related Topics: All Stories, Business Services, Cloud Computing |
by Ed GubbinsAugust 25th, 2009
Verizon Business (NYSE: VZ) is offering a new IP version of its hosted interactive voice response (IVR) service as an alternative to the circuit-based TDM IVR it’s been hosting for eight years, mostly to customers in the financial, health care and government verticals.
The new service, based on Nuance Communications’ (NASDAQ: NUAN) speech-recognition platform, accommodates IP-based call centers and makes it easier to deal with multiple data sources, Verizon said. An API lets callers interface directly with back-end databases and customer relationship management platforms. For example, it allows web-based applications to respond to customers’ calls by retrieving their personal call history and transactions. Also, callers who need to speak to agents can be directed to them via Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) or, if IP-based centers are busy, to legacy TDM call centers.
“This enables the enterprises to migrate to IP at their own pace,” said Tom Smith, group manager for Verizon’s IVR and speech product marketing. “They can continue to leverage their legacy TDM infrastructure while rolling out IP infrastructure to handle any growth or replace end-of-life TDM equipment.”
No Comments Related Topics: All Stories, Business Services, VoIP |
by Ed GubbinsAugust 18th, 2009
I was struck by the apparent drop-off in RLEC M&A activity this year as described in Frontier Communications’ (NYSE: FTR) recent regulatory filings. Leading up to the mid-tier telco’s deal to acquire nearly 5 million access lines from Verizon (NYSE: VZ), Frontier was only considering one other major deal, and even that didn’t get very far.
It’s a stark contrast with last year, when offers were flying in every direction across the RLEC sector, including proposals for three-way mergers. Embarq and CenturyTel talked with at least five other companies about serious M&A offers before the two merged last fall.
And it wasn’t just the RLECs. M&A offers were flying in the CLEC sector, too, last year. The Wall Street Journal reported for the first time only last week that (more…)
1 Comment Related Topics: All Stories, Broadband/FTTX, Business Services, Carrier Ethernet, Residential Services |
by Kevin FitchardAugust 5th, 2009
As Sprint (NYSE:S) prepares to expand its 4G footprint beyond Baltimore, it is tweaking its product portfolio to take advantage of the enhanced speeds of Clearwire’s WiMax network. It has begun selling dual-mode WiMax-EV-DO versions of Novatel’s MiFi personal hotspot and the business-targeted CradlePoint wireless broadband router, both of which redistribute capacity from mobile broadband connections to multiple WiFi devices. (more…)
2 Comments Related Topics: 3G/4G, All Stories, Broadband/FTTX, Business Services, Mobile Apps, Residential Services, WiMAX, Wireless |
by Kevin FitchardJuly 30th, 2009
Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE:ALU) CEO Ben Verwaayen isn’t done tinkering with his company yet. After selling off its stake in defence contractor Thales and entering into a major alliance with HP (NYSE:HPQ) to sell integrated communications and IT solutions, Verwaayan said there are plenty more plans in the works for more co-sourcing deals, the possibility of outsourcing some of its own product development and even the sale of some of its product divisions. (more…)
No Comments Related Topics: 3G/4G, All Stories, Broadband/FTTX, Business Services, Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC), IMS, Residential Services |
by Ed GubbinsJuly 23rd, 2009
AT&T (NYSE: T) expects to spend 35% to 50% more in the back half of this year than it did in the first half, the company said during its second-quarter earnings report today.
Having spent about $7.2 billion in the first half of the year – just $4.0 billion of that in the second quarter, below some analysts’ expectations – AT&T reiterated its previously voiced expectations of spending $17 billion to $18 billion for the entire year, suggesting that 58% to 60% of its annual budget would be spent in the back half. (more…)
No Comments Related Topics: 3G/4G, All Stories, Business Services, Global, WiMAX, Wireless |
by Ed GubbinsMarch 24th, 2009
Aktino, which sells Ethernet-over-copper gear for line-bonded broadband, today announced plans to double the rate/reach performance of its products. Starting in May, Aktino’s gear will deliver “up to 100 Mb/s on just five copper pairs (80 Mb/s on four copper pairs).” On five copper pairs, Aktino’s range for 100 Mb/s is 4,000 feet, the company said. And using eight pairs, the range for 100 Mb/s is 9,000 feet.
(more…)
3 Comments Related Topics: All Stories, Business Services, Residential Services, Video, Wireless |
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