Telecom in the News; Integra Telecom

NWMAP brings you updates in Telecom making the news. Integra Telecom made a few headlines this month, including the announcement of their new CEO, Kevin O’ Hara. Kevin was formerly co-founder of Level 3 and company board member. He is taking over for Tom Casey.

Integra has made most of their headlines due to the widespread and fast growing expansion of services this last year. In a recent article it states that Integra extended Hosted VoIP across its entire network. Integra is giving its business customers options. Since no two businesses are the same, businesses have the option to purchase a basic phone system with traditional calling features or a completely hosted solution with a dedicated switch.

Pairing its network with PBX gear from vendors including Mitel and NEC, the Managed PBX service is a completely managed premise-based system that provides businesses with a fixed monthly price. One of the clear benefits of the service, especially for smaller businesses with little or no IT staff, is that it can reduce reduce the complexity of managing separate equipment and service vendors.

Read more: Integra Telecom extends hosted voice across its entire network – FierceTelecom http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/integra-telecom-extends-hosted-voice-across-its-entire-network/2011-12-07#ixzz1h0OIWTbH

Also making headlines is Megapath with its enhanced managed security suite. Among the many updates are in-the-cloud signature updates, scanning, and cleaning to create what MegaPath says will be “a steady flow of clean data to businesses.”  Taking care of security threats before they become a problem is certainly a proactive solution.  

 

Integration of SIP Trunking in 2011

As SIP Trunking technology becomes more widely accepted and utilized in businesses (all sizes) and mobile communications,  the implementation will be boosted this year. Clients want to know what SIP Trunking is and what it will do for their business.

What is SIP Trunking?  (Session Initiation Protocol) connection is a service that connects a company’s PBX to the existing telephone system infrastructure (PSTN) via Internet using the SIP VoIP standard. It’s an efficient type of VoIP that many companies are using to lower their Telecom costs.

What are the BENEFITS for my company? SIP Trunking can be seamlessly integrated into existing systems. Not only that, but it saves you money, fairly quickly upon your initial modest investment. Most companies see a return on investment in as little as 3-6 months. Traditional local and long distance charges decrease dramatically because the call travels mostly over the IP network. Bundles of physical wires are replaced with PSTN connectivity via a SIP trunking service provider on the Internet.  Also, if your company has multiple offices, SIP Trunking technology makes better use of your connectivity. Basically, it makes sense from both the economic standpoint and the business aspect as well.

NWMAP is a reputable Master Agency with over 20 years experience. We offer a variety of SIP Trunking technologies at the best cost for our clients. We really know our Telecom vendors enabling our clients to have choices in services and methods to save money.

Technology: How Your Business Can Get More For Less

Majority of companies are avoiding spending money in 2011, and maybe throughout this recession, and focusing on making money. However, the demands for better technology, efficient communication, new customers, and fulfilled prior customers is still at an all-time high. Companies are facing challenges like keeping up with the rapid growth in technology, faster and more reliable communication expectations, expansion and travel, and customers want more for less.  How can you get all this accomplished and not spend unnecessary money or possibly any more than you already are?

In the Telecommunications industry the technology is already there, with an availability for more options and features than ever before.

  • Combining and consolidating. Multiple services like voice, data, and Internet can be combined and costs consolidated to save companies money. A Telecom Broker can assist you with consolidating all your services into one package or one bill, including ongoing maintenance and a Telecom Broker available any time you need one.  
  • Efficiency and reliability. VOIP solutions enable companies to be connected to their customers clearly and directly.
  • Packages and Promotions. Typically a company can get more for less because of various carrier promotions and wholesale pricing NWMAP Telecom Brokers have access to.
  • Current products are designed to be easily integrated into a company’s existing system. NWMAP ensures seamless transitions.
  • Security. Data solutions will keep businesses connected, secure and stable. For example, MPLS Flex provides superior security between multiple locations.  

Featured Product: MPLS Flex

What is it?

Multi-protocol Label Switching is used to enhance the flow of traffic on a network by making better use of available network paths. MPLS creates labels for IP packets or Ethernet frames. These MPLS labels inherit Quality of Service (QoS) tagging or Class of Service (CoS) priority, which network designers use to schedule the packet’s movement across a network.

 Why is it a great product for 2011? 

Integra Telecom, a leader in Telecommunications, is consistently making it easier for companies to experience the benefits of new technology with products that simplify your communications system. MPLS Flex is one of those products.  

Superior technology: The WAN on a MPLS Network offers a class of services for Voice, Video, Network applications and Internet exceeding the expectations of traditional VPN and point to point services.

 Extremely cost effective: compared to traditional Frame, Spoke and Hub Point to Point WAN. More connectivity and combining of services equals more for less.  

 How does it benefit your business?

 Integra Telecom’s Network and VPN solutions enables businesses to connect multiple offices, offers the simplicity of combining your voice, data and Internet or Ethernet traffic over a single connection, extra security between locations, redundancy, priority for crucial applications, more connectivity and competitive pricing.

NWMAP works with over 40 Telecommunications carriers, including Integra Telecom, bringing new technology to businesses for less money.

How To Attract The Next Generation Workforce To Your Business

IT leaders have known for years the value and benefit of efficient and new technologies for businesses.

  • Being able to share information, globally if necessary.
  • Improve customer service
  • Increase productivity
  • Cut costs in several departments
  • Reduce carbon footprint
  • Reduce absenteeism
  • Business runs more efficiently
  • Improve communications

An additional benefit is attracting the new generations in the workforce to your business. These employees are tech savvy and greatly appreciate new and efficient technology. They work well in groups, requiring the appropriate technology to keep them connected. Video conferencing, virtual teams, telecommuting, email/voicemail technologies, and wireless devices attract the next generation who have the capabilities to transform your business.

Implementing  a new system or new technologies can require employee training and ongoing assurance of company-wide acceptance. The benefit of attracting the next generation workforce is adding an addition to your company that embraces new technologies. It opens a door to opportunities for companies and employees with various work arrangements, whether employees travel or work from home occasionally.

The benefits far outweigh any hesitation a business may have about implementing new technology. Often times, businesses are astonished by the money they save. Telecom Brokers at NWMAP save their clients money by having access to over 40 carriers in the Telecom business, negotiating prices with those carriers, and searching for specific packages that benefit the client’s business specifically. New technology should always benefit a business.