PhonePlusMag
Illinois Judge Wants to Nix Verizon-Frontier Sale
An Illinois judge on Tuesday recommended that state regulators not approve Verizon Communications Inc.’s (VZ) landline sale to Frontier Communications (FTR). The move could block the pending deal, which stands to impact 600,000 customers in Illinois alone.Administrative Law Judge Lisa M. Tapia said the transaction will hurt consumers because Frontier will …(188 words) ... »
PNG Searching for Acquisitions in 2010
Following its January restructuring to focus on commercial business, PowerNet Global (PNG), a privately-held service provider based in Cincinnati, announced Thursday that it plans to acquire complementary businesses in 2010 with a goal of sustained annual growth of 25 percent. PNG did not disclose its current annual revenues.Stuart Chowning, PNG’s …(223 words) ... »
U.S. Sports Complex in Iraq Dedicated to NPRG’s Barnich
On Saturday, the U.S. State Department will dedicate a new sports field in Iraq to Terry Barnich.Barnich was the co-founder and CEO of research firm New Paradigm Resources Group (NPRG); he was killed by a roadside bomb just outside of Baghdad on Memorial Day 2009. Barnich had worked in Baghdad …(333 words) ... »
Nuvio Shakes Up Pricing on New NuvioFlex Virtual PBX
Nuvio Corp. announced this week the launch of its NuvioFlex virtual PBX service the company says breaks the industry pricing paradigm, enabling businesses to purchase hosted VoIP more like they would a premises-based PBX phone system.Historically, hosted VoIP has been sold based upon the number of “seats” or “users,” resulting …(210 words) ... »
TCA Sets Channel Chief Summit
The Technology Channel Association (TCA), a non-profit organization for the indirect sales channel, plans to launch the first-ever Channel Chief Summit event, open only to vendor members of the association, April 13 in Chicago.The purpose of the event is to give channel chiefs an opportunity to openly discuss and share …(83 words) ... »
Apparent Networks Now Supports MSPs, VoIP Assessments
Apparent Networks expanded its PathView Cloud Network Performance Management Service to include features for managed service providers and VoIP assessments, opening its technology to a new population of users.The cloud-based service, which hit the streets at the end of 2009, enables resellers and end users to monitor their networks for …(452 words) ... »
SugarCRM Expands Channel Program
Open-source CRM vendor SugarCRM has revamped its channel program, including changing its name, and adding new resources and incentives for partners of all flavors.The Open+ Partner Program, announced this week, is a filling out of the company’s existing program that had been around for about five years, said Jeff Campbell, …(372 words) ... »
Sprint Loses Key Outsourcing Contract With Time Warner Cable
Shares of Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) started bouncing back this week as the carrier predicted “revenue stability” for later this year.That is, until a financial analyst told clients in a research note that Sprint is losing an outsourcing contract worth $250 million per year. On Wednesday, Bernstein Research’s Craig Moffett noted …(317 words) ... »
Palm Pre, Palm Pixi Now Dirt Cheap
There seems to be a fire sale going on for the Palm Pre and the Palm Pixi at a number of retail outlets.The smartphones have received mixed reviews since they were released last year. Verizon Wireless started selling an updated version of the Pre and the Pixi in January, with …(129 words) ... »
AT&T: Trivial Texts Lead to Fatal Crashes
ATT’s new anti-texting-while-driving campaign highlights the triviality of some texts and e-mails sent just before some fatal car crashes.The campaign features a series of messages like “Where u at?” in an effort to show just how short and unimportant many texts can be. All of the messages used in the …(168 words) ... »
Motorola Combines Enterprise Mobility Channels
Motorola Inc. (MOT) on Monday announced that it will combine all indirect sales partners for its Enterprise Mobility Solutions under one channel program, effective April 1.The new Motorola PartnerEmpower Program integrates Motorola’s Enterprise Mobility business and Government and Public Safety businesses, which were combined to become the EMS business in …(377 words) ... »
Polycom, Avaya Broaden UC Partnership
Building on its string of Cisco-resistant partnerships in the video conferencing sector, Polycom (PLCM) is extending its partnership with Avaya across its full voice portfolio. The companies will announce on March 9 that they plan to co-develop and market unified communications systems that comprise Avaya’s SIP-based Aura platform and Polycom’s Open …(323 words) ... »
Illinois Judge Nixes Verizon-Frontier Sale
An Illinois judge on Tuesday ruled that state regulators should not approve Verizon Communications Inc.’s (VZ) landline sale to Frontier Communications (FTR). The move essentially blocked the pending deal, which stands to impact 600,000 customers in Illinois alone.Administrative Law Judge Lisa M. Tapia said the transaction will hurt consumers because Frontier …(189 words) ... »
PHONE+ POLL: Agents, Are You Selling Cellular Mobile Voice or Data Services?
Agents, are you selling cellular mobile voice or data services?online surveys (10 words) No topics for this post. »
New AT&T, CWA Contract a Cushy Deal in Weak Economy
When ATT Inc. (T) and its Communications Workers of America (CWA) wireline union members in the Southeast agreed to a new contract last week, they did so after making some changes to a tentative deal that was voted down on Jan. 29.And those adjustments still come off as cushy when you …(256 words) ... »
Avaya Extends UC to Very Small Businesses with IP Office 6.0
In response to Nortel dealers’ requests, Avaya Inc. has included features and pricing targeted to very small businesses with less than 20 employees among the enhancements in IP Office 6.0.Joe Scotto, Avaya’s director of product and solutions marketing for global small and medium enterprise markets, told PHONE+ the Nortel dealers …(433 words) ... »
Stimulus Funds’ Tax Status May Delay Broadband Builds
Broadband stimulus funds have started trickling into the industry. But if the government doesn’t clarify whether the grants are considered taxable income, onlookers fear recipients won’t use the money any time soon – defeating the purpose of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. That dilemma prompted the National Association …(321 words) ... »
USF Reform: Broadband, Intercarrier Comp Top of Mind
As expected, the FCC will push for Universal Service Fund (USF) reform that supports broadband buildouts and gets rid of intercarrier compensation. The agency has spent the past couple of months previewing parts of its national broadband plan, which it will present to Congress on March 17, and USF changes …(427 words) ... »
AT&T’s CWA Workers in Southeast Agree to New Contract
ATT Inc.’s (T) wireline union workers in the southeastern United States have consented to a new three-year agreement with the service provider. The news came late Friday. The contract was voted in after Communications Workers of America (CWA) members in February turned down a tentative deal. ATT said the settlement reached …(194 words) ... »
Global Wireless Operator Capex to See Big Rise in 2010
Good news for vendors of wireless broadband equipment: mobile operators are ratcheting up their capex spending this year, although some experts disagree by how much and where.Over at ABI Research, analysts said on Monday wireless carriers will invest 4 percent more, year-over-year, in infrastructure in 2010. And providers in South …(329 words) ... »
tw telecom Joins Other Providers in Refinancing Debt
tw telecom inc. (TWTC) shares closed 3.6 percent higher, at $17.56, on Friday after the Denver-based CLEC started selling $430 million worth of senior notes.tw telecom aims to pay off debt with a 2014 due date and a 9.25 percent interest rate. The new offering comes with an 8 percent interest …(128 words) ... »
TCA Committee Ratifies Code of Ethics
A committee of the Technology Channel Association (TCA), a non-profit organization for the indirect sales channel, has ratified a Code of Ethics, the first step in the creation of a Certified Agent Program. The draft document now much be approved by the TCA Board of Trustees.The Certified Agent Program committee …(157 words) ... »
Hawkeye Allies with MSP Partners for PartnerConduit Access
Hawkeye has allied with MSP Partners, a subgroup of the IT association CompTIA, to provide MSP Partners’ 5,000 members with three months of complimentary premium access to Hawkeye’s PartnerConduit Network (PCN), a vendor-neutral partner-to-partner collaboration community.PCN is an online community enables participating partners to connect with like-minded partners, collaborate on …(287 words) ... »
RCN Shares Skyrocket on ABRY Buyout News
Cable operator RCN Corp. (RCNI) has agreed to a $1.2 billion buyout by investment fund ABRY Partners. The price tag includes ABRY’s assumption of about $630 million of RCN’s debt.The news sent RCN’s stock soaring. By 1:26 p.m. Eastern, the company’s shares had jumped 23.16 percent to $15.10. ABRY specializes in …(187 words) ... »
Agents Network at Vegas Peer-to-Peer Mixer
About 100 independent agents and subagents attended the Peer-to-Peer Networking Mixer Tuesday afternoon at the Channel Partners Conference Expo in Las Vegas.The event, sponsored by PHONE+ and master agency PlanetOne Communications, offered a forum for agents to network and discuss their common business issues.With the reception atmosphere – cocktails …(211 words) ... »
Palm Pre Plus Finally Gets Praise
Palm has taken all kinds of heat lately for everything from the drop of its stock price and dwindling cash reserves, to poor sales and reviews of its flagship smartphone, the Palm Pre.But following up some good news this week that the company has resumed production of the Pre in …(266 words) ... »
AT&T White Pages: Nobody Wants ‘Em
Some traditions go out with a bang. Here’s one dying without so much as a whimper.Just two years ago, ATT assumed it would get a lot of calls after the phone giant stopped automatic delivery of White Pages in parts of Atlanta. As it turns out, only 1 percent of …(217 words) ... »
Level 3 Lands $13.7M in Broadband Stimulus Grants
Level 3 Communications Inc. (LVLT) said this week it has landed $13.7 million in broadband stimulus grants from the National Telecommunications and Information Association (NTIA).Level 3 will add another $4.2 million to the kitty. “High-speed Internet and telecommunications services have become a vital part of building businesses and communities,” Sureel Choksi, …(150 words) ... »
Toshiba Certifies SoTel SIP Trunking for Strata CIX IP PBX
Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., Telecommunication Systems Division and SoTel Systems LLC announced this week the interoperability of SoTel SIP Trunking services with Toshiba’s family of Strata CIX IP business communication systems. SoTel SIP Trunking services are now available nationwide from Authorized Toshiba Dealers.SoTel Systems is an ITSP offering SIP …(154 words) ... »
FCC: National Broadband Will Cost $25B
You’ve probably heard by now that the FCC’s plan for national broadband coverage won’t come cheap – unless you consider $25 billion a small price to pay.You heard right. The Wall Street Journal said this week the plan will ask Congress to spend up to $25 billion – with between …(174 words) ... »