VON Articles

Q&A: Windstream Weighs Broadband Stimulus Involvement

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:36:07 PDT

Of the dozens of service providers expected to apply for broadband stimulus funds, Windstream Corp. (WIN) stands out as a frontrunner. The rural LEC has been "working diligently with the various government agencies to position us for economic stimulus grants allocated toward broadband expansion," CEO Jeff Gardner said in a first-quarter ...(1412 words)

Why Carriers Need Twitter

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:59:09 PDT

If you’re part of a social network like Facebook, linkedin or Twitter, or if you use a smartphone with applications personalized for your interests, then you’re like millions of others who are part of a communication revolution. The phenomenal growth of online social networking and mobile communication is creating a ...(414 words)

The Important Role of Facilities-Based CLECs

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:55:23 PDT

Like the universe, the telecommunications industry continues an outward expansion; telecom’s expansion, however, is driven by economic forces of market competition, in which facilities-based CLECs continue to be a growing force, with a variety of market strategies.Today’s facilities-based CLECs are significant in the communications industry for three reasons. First and ...(337 words)

Outsourcing Operations, Telcos Remake Business Models

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:33:55 PDT

On the July 9 conference call to announce the $5 billion managed services contract for Ericsson (ERIC) to handle day-to-day operation of Sprint Nextel Corp.’s (S) network, reporters and analysts repeatedly asked about financial projections. How much will this deal save Sprint over its seven-year life? And how much will Ericsson ...(922 words)

What Federal Financial Reforms Could Mean for Telecom

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:06:55 PDT

President Obama has proposed a number of reforms to America’s financial regulations, changes many argue are necessary to prevent another economic meltdown. But could the measure hold some unintended consequences for telecom?You see, one of the revisions would order hedge funds and other private capital investors to register with the ...(270 words)

Exclusivity’s Death Knell?

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:36:39 PDT

ATT Inc. and Verizon Wireless might be exploring netbooks lately, but the next wrinkle in the device wars will be a new category of connected device — call it the smartbook, or the netphone. Regardless of nomenclature, the coming smart-net-phone-book will embed broadband — 4G and HSPA, most likely — ...(534 words)

Data Flood Drives Carriers to Managed Services

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:19:16 PDT

As demand for high-bandwidth mobile and VoIP applications, like Skype, soars, the demand for international transport is rising as well. And carriers, unable to meet the demand for transport and interconnections on their own, are turning increasingly to managed services from international wholesalers. “Growing capacity consumption, resulting from increased broadband ...(697 words)

Broadband Stimulus Funding Questions Answered

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:34:10 PDT

The Rural Utilities Service and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration on July 1 released a 121-page “notice of funds availability” for the broadband economic stimulus initiative. Myriad details are explained throughout the document; for service providers and their partners, perhaps the most important, immediate, aspects surround the definition of ...(332 words)

As VoIP Fraud Mounts, Security Spending Drops

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:23:51 PDT

Though analysts report VoIP toll fraud on the rise, operators haven’t marshaled existing resources to combat it – and the recession means things are likely to get worse before they get better.Sipera Systems, which makes security software for unified communications platforms, said in early June it has discovered “numerous” cases ...(749 words)

Netbooks Find Niche in Enterprises, Study Shows

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:50:05 PDT

Netbooks, which are widely viewed as consumer devices, are being actively deployed in many enterprises; 21 percent of organizations currently have netbooks deployed and 50 percent intend to deploy them in the future, according to new research from the Technology Practice of Chadwick Martin Bailey (CMB). The study, “Netbooks in ...(677 words)