Show Daily - INCOMPAS · Show Daily Day 1 Show produced by COMPTEL GRAND OPENING REMARKS Monday,...

This afternoon at COMPTEL PLUS in San Diego will be devoted to a keynote speech discussing the telecom policy changes floating throughout Washington,D.C. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, during the 25th Anniversary COMPTEL event, will highlight his work on and expectations for updates to the Tele-communications Act of 1996; he will be followed by special guest speaker FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin.

Stevens has been vocal during his committee hearings and at association speechesabout matters he considers pertinent to a Telecom Act rewrite, especiallyintercarrier compensation and Universal Service Fund (USF) reform. Stevensis chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committeeand has been spearheading a telecom rewrite. He also was one of the keyauthors of the ’96 Act. “As a staunch advocate for competition and con-sumers, attendees of COMPTEL PLUSwill have a unique opportunity to hearfirsthand his views on the issues that affect our industry,” said Earl Comstock,president and CEO of COMPTEL.

For Stevens and Martin both, fixing the USF contribution mechanism is atop priority. The multibillion-dollar USF is the subject of much scrutiny on the Hill, in Congress and at the FCC. Policymakers are considering several approaches, including whether to assess all revenue — intrastate andinterstate — alike; or assess phone numbers; or charge per connection. The

current contribution mechanism “is broken and it needs reform,” Stevens said at thewinter meeting of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners(NARUC) in February.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin supports a numbers-based approach and Stevens toldNARUC the Commerce Committee wants to examine that structure. The numbers-basedsystem would assess USF fees of $1-$2 more per month to everyone with a landlinetelephone, regardless of whether consumers make long-distance calls. Martin is widely

expected to begin tackling USF changes this spring. Martin’s speech, meanwhile, also is likely to take on issues surrounding

telecom reform. As the COMPTEL Show Daily went to press, President Bush had nominated Robert McDowell, COMPTEL’s senior vice presidentand assistant general counsel, to fill the FCC’s remaining commissioner’sseat. If McDowell is confirmed, Martin for the first time in his tenure will beworking with a fully staffed commission made up of three Republicans andtwo Democrats.

“As someone COMPTEL previously recognized as a ‘Champion ofCompetition,’ we are delighted and honored to have Chairman Martin at ourspring show,” said Comstock. “We look forward to hearing what he has to sayand continuing our dialogue with him on key issues for the competitive com-munications industry.”

2006 marks COMPTEL’s 25th anniversary and the association is celebrating that milestone with pomp and circumstance as it also trains a watchful eye on pending telecom legislation reform.

“The organization has grown considerably since 1981, but the basic issues remain the same — name-ly how to ensure a competitive environment in which entrepreneurial companies can offer consumers theproducts and services they want,” said Earl Comstock, president and CEO of COMPTEL. “The fact thatCOMPTEL is still here is a testament to the strength and resiliency of the competitive sector.”

Some of the competitive industry’s greatest challenges are yet tocome, Comstock predicted. “The FCC has significantly altered the ruleswhich previously governed our industry. Congress is considering legisla-tion that could further change the regulatory environment, either for bet-ter or worse. Now more than ever the competitive industry needs to speakwith a unified voice, and COMPTEL is the forum through which theindustry’s voice will be heard.”

Comstock will share these thoughts and more with COMPTEL PLUSmembers and attendees during his remarks ushering in the association’s 25th

Anniversary Conference + Expo today. He also will be joined by J. ShermanHenderson III, COMPTEL’s chairman of the board, and president and CEOof Lightyear Network Solutions LLC, who has been instrumental in the com-petitive carrier industry.

Comstock said that as policymakers craft updates to theTelecommunications Act of 1996, COMPTEL and its members must work to preserve the law’s pro-competitive principles that “areunder assault from the incumbent telephone and cable operators.” Comstock especially wants to work with legislators to make sure“transmission network operators have an incentive to build and operate broadband networks, while at the same time ensuring thenondiscriminatory interconnection of competing networks, and a level playing field for all of the content and service providers,including the network operators, that seek to use those networks to reach consumers.”

On Sunday, March 19, COMPTEL held its “Champions of Competition” Awards dinner, during which time leaders recognized Rep. F.James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., who serves as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Comstock said Sensenbrenner has helped ensurethat consumers benefit from communications competition and choice. During today’s afternoon break at 1:45 p.m., which is sponsored byProgress Telecom, COMPTEL will serve cake to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Monday, March 20

12:45 - 1:45 p.m.Randle Ballroom CDE

Show DailyDay 1

Show produced by COMPTEL

GRAND OPENINGREMARKS

Monday, March 20


Sen. Ted Stevens Kevin Martin

Sherm Henderson

Stevens to Keynote COMPTEL PLUSWith Special Guest Martin

COMPTEL Celebrates 25 Years,Looks to the Future

After a full day of exploring the show floorat the COMPTEL PLUS Spring 2006Convention + Expo, get ready to rest your feetbut keep your toes tapping. This evening’s enter-tainment — “An Evening with Kenny Loggins”— is being presented by Compass Global andheld at 8:15 p.m. at “345 B St” (4th and B; onemile from the Hyatt).

Classic movie theme songs like “I’mAlright” (from Caddyshack), “Footloose”(from Footloose), “Danger Zone” (from TopGun) and “Nobody’s Fool” (from CaddyshackII) are just a few of Loggins’ greatest hits.Other popular songs of this two-time Grammywinner include “Your Momma Don’t Dance,”“This Is It,” “House at Pooh Corner” and“Danny’s Song.” Loggins has sold more than20 million records in his 30-year career.

“Compass Global wanted to participate inthis special 25th anniversary of COMPTEL as a tribute to our customers and COMP-TEL members,” said Dean Cary, President and CEO of Compass Global. “We feelKenny Loggins is an appropriate choice for this occasion as his hits appeal to audi-ences of all ages. We assure you this will be an event you won’t want to miss.”

Additional support for this event is being provided by Homisco, Sansay Inc., SiriusTelecom Inc. and Veraz Networks. Transportation will be provided from the Hyatt start-ing at 7:30 p.m. The location is a 21+ venue only so attendees must be 21 years or older.

This is a ticketed event open to COMPTEL attendees registered with either a VIP,full conference or exhibitor registration.

Don’t miss the chance to kick off your “Monday” shoes during tonight’s fun-filled evening!

Monday, March 20, 2006 — Vol. 6, No. 1 Published by:

Tonight’s entertainment — “An Evening with Kenny Loggins”—will be presented by Compass Global.

Earl Comstock

An Evening of MusicWith Kenny Loggins

Comptel Spring06D1 3/30/06 9:32 AM

2 COMPTEL • MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2006

Before service providers can say “show me the money,” they need to understand exactly whatventure capitalists and investment banks are looking for when they consider doling out funds. Inthe session “‘Finance-able’Service Providers: Finding and Securing Funds from Investors,” pan-elists will discuss just what it takes to secure the public or private financing needed to expandoperations or enter new lines of business.

Slated speakers include Kevin Coyne, CFO of FiberLight LLC; John Siegel Jr., general part-ner of Columbia Capital; Richard Smith, president and CEO of Eschelon Telecom; and KeithWilson, CFO of PAETEC Communications Inc. Vik Grover, CFA: managing director of invest-ment banking at Merriman Curhan Ford & Co., will lead the panel.

Eschelon Telecom is one of the few CLECs to have gone public successfully.“Approaching investors with a CLEC business model has been challenging — and that is anunderstatement,” said Smith, explaining that is because investors have been wary of CLECs’ historically poorperformance and significant number of bankruptcies. The only way to win over skeptical investors, he advised,“is to prove your execution abilities.”

To do this, service providers need to maintain high-quality financial and operating metrics; a cleaned-up balancesheet; and they need to approach investors and convince them of their worth, Smith said. In this session, Smith willgo over how Eschelon Telecom raised more than $240 million so other carriers can do the same.

Meanwhile, PAETEC’s Wilson also will highlight some of the privately held company’s financial strategies.PAETEC last year started an IPO, but did not complete it because “it was primarily driven by overall sector valua-tion multiples, which we view are still on the lower side.”

Wilson said PAETEC primarily has dealt with banks as its source of investment funding. “We have not had anequity need for over six years,” said Wilson. He noted investors look for operational stability; the ability to generate

consistent, free cash flow to service debt; and a company’s ability to grow without taking onany undue risk in terms of geographic and product expansion. He said PAETEC has beenapproached by public and private investors, but the carrier turned them down because it doesnot need new equity participants “as our investors are pleased with the performance.”

He recommends other competitive carriers looking for financing also address risk man-agement issues, which include regulatory, competitive and technological items. The biggestchallenge PAETEC faced was “finding the appropriate comparable benchmarks to structureour financings. The sector continues to be widely dispersed in terms of operational, regulato-ry and technical models. This makes it difficult to assess the appropriate structure for financ-ings — either debt or equity as compared to other transactions done in the market.”

Investors, Wilson said, are just beginning to view the CLEC sector as better than “dis-tressed,” which should bode well for carriers seeking financing.

Finally, FiberLight’s Coyne will talk about the feedback the dark fiber network owner has received from venturecapitalists and investment banks. He said investors want a proven model; ROI discipline, and preferably a less capital-intensive business; a management team with past success as a team; understanding of the market and the nicheopportunities in the respective markets; and appropriate incentive arrangements.

Service providers seeking financing further need to consider the high cost of equity and the risk inherent in noncashpay structures, Coyne said. They also should keep in mind risks such as how long it will be until there is free cash flowand the potential penalties for missing expectations, as well as realize the cost of operation relative to competition.

FiberLight was in the midst of restructuring when it got funding and that sort of business model requires investorssupportive of those changes, Coyne pointed out. “The most important issue we came across was that most investorswanted to see a clear exit and/or positive cash flowing out of the business sooner than later,” he said.

Qwest Communications International Inc. (Booth 1204) recently announced an important addition to its whole-sale product portfolio. Qwest IP Solutions is a WAN solution that simplifies complex data communications forwholesale customers.

Based on Qwest’s nationwide MPLS network, Qwest IP Solutions is designed around customers’needs, which aregrowing more complex as businesses implement new applications, such as VoIP and real-time streaming multimedia.Qwest IP Solutions also is backed by industry-leading SLAs that measure performance.

Derek Koecher, director of wholesale for Qwest, said, “With Qwest IP Solutions, customers do not have to rendertheir current networks obsolete. Instead, we help them use their existing investments to implement a better solution.”

Qwest IP Solutions underscore an important shift in the telecom industry, as traditional voice services areexpected to decline, and data and IP solutions continue to grow. Qwest is committed to delivering next-generationsolutions, including VoIP, and IP termination and origination. The introduction of Qwest IP Solutions continues thecompany’s push into strategic and advanced solutions that help wholesale customers bring their end users to the nextlevel of communications.

Another important trend Qwest is supporting is the use of OCN billing strategies. To ensure wholesale customersget the best value, Qwest has announced a new enhancement to its IP voice terminating service, providing OCN billingto wholesale facilities-based carrier customers. The new billing option provides pricing at the individual OCN/LATAlevel, giving customers the ability to easily reconcile their billing, and manage costs more effectively.

“Offering IP voice terminating services with our OCN billing solution is a telling example of how we’re design-ing our services around our customers’ needs,” said Koecher.

Control Point Solutions (Booth 1323) has enhanced its integrated Margin Management Solution for carriers,combining revenue assurance and expense management.

“New software enhancements to our revenue-assurance practice have strengthened our professional services capa-bilities,” said Theresa McClure, Control Point Solution’s director of revenue assurance. “We now employ rough calldetail record level usage audits and new automation to find stranded assets. Our revenue-management strategy is toinstall controls to monitor the revenue stream. We now are adding new capabilities to automate that process.”

Control Point Solutions’ revenue-assurance programs include an end-to-end review of carriers’ process and systems. This includes product and service delivery; sales order management; switch translations; provisioning;revenue leakage studies; event processing; billing and accounts receivable; and more. The programs address com-mon operational problems:

• Reconciliation of billing systems with provisioning activity• Elimination of revenue leaks from pricing promotions• Identification and billing for usage that is not collected or sent to a “stranded” system• Reconciliation of revenue and costs for products to meet carriers’ financial objectives“The market is actively seeking better ways to manage revenue,” said Jeff Hegan, vice president of carrier

sales for Control Point Solutions. “These new capabilities strengthen our expense management capabilities ofreducing access and interconnection costs through audits and strategic sourcing benchmarking to ensure carri-ers’ rates are competitive.”

The company said it has helped clients improve their bottom line by $1.5 billion through a focus on revenueassurance and expense management.

Qwest Enhances Wholesale Portfolio Control Point Adds RevenueAssurance to Margin Management

ComTec Inc. (Booth 1422), a print and electronic customer communications provider, has announced plansto upgrade its printing technology and install state-of-the-art highlight color printers in its facilities inMinnesota and New Jersey.

According to ComTec, the Docutech 180 Highlight Color printer is among Xerox’ latest innovations in pro-duction printing and places the company at the forefront of its industry and among the elite companies implement-ing this printing technology. The Docutech 180 HLC printers offer the highest resolution in their class with 2400-dpi black-and-white and 600-dpi highlight color resolutions.

Most importantly, the company’s technology upgrades will increase throughput by almost 100 percent, from 92pages per minute to 180. The efficiencies gained in producing client correspondences nearly twice as fast will bepassed on to the company’s clients, providing more automation, faster turn-around time and improved cash flow,according to the company.

“Clients expect service providers such as ComTec to stay on the leading edge of technology and printing inno-vation,” said Peter Christensen, CEO and chairman of ComTec. “This investment in a superior printing platform isa prime example of our commitment to that model.”

ComTec Upgrades Print PlatformUDP (Booth 1420), a national provider of billing and order management systems, has launched a new CRM

program within COMET, the company’s flagship end-user customer care and billing platform. Much of the data are pre-populated and companies are able to work from one database, which captures all

interactions with customers. CRM screens show when the customer was last contacted, contacted by whom, theaverage monthly revenue the customer adds to the company, birthdays, anniversaries, contact information, andprospect-tracking.

The module also has data mining capabilities. It further reveals what services a customer has subscribed to, andvia pop-up windows, helps customer service representatives upsell additional services on the spot. In addition, theCRM feature allows companies to create inbound and outbound marketing campaigns to subscribers and prospects.

“Our customers have the option to go out and buy a generic CRM system, but we chose to build one for thetelecom industry. It’s designed specifically to help our clients maintain and grow their customer base,” said JoelDaniels, UDP’s CIO.

UDP Launches CRM Program

Excell Services (Booth 1516), a provider of directory assistance and operator services, has announced the expan-sion of its Customer Relationship Management (CRM) group.

Although it already provides inbound customer care services, Excell has expanded its CRM infrastructure in itsLubbock, Texas, and San Antonio call centers in order to accommodate the increasing inbound customer care needs ofits wireless, LEC and IXC clients.

Excell’s CRM strategy involves taking advantage of all possible communication paths — telephone, Internet, liveagents or interactive voice response. Thus, the customer care offerings include inbound customer service, sales, billingand technical support using multiple channels, such as phone, e-mail, chat, fax and mail.

Excell’s wholesale directory assistance offering features live agent or automation, provides access to more than 160million listings and makes available a variety of enhanced features from movie listings to stock quotes. Excell alsooffers call-completion options to its clients regardless of their connectivity method to the Excell network.

Excell’s operator services offering utilizes nationwide tariffs on wholesale, retail and unbundled service programs.

Enterprise customers demand a higher level of service and a portfo-lio targeted at their needs. So a standard menu of products and servicesjust won’t satisfy. During Tuesday’s session “The Customer Is AlwaysRight: Tailoring Offerings for the Enterprise,” enterprise customers includ-ing John Graf, director of IT of Kalypsys Inc., a San Diego-based compa-ny in the medical research field, and Barry Bryson, associate director ofengineering for the Utah Education Network, will offer valuable insightsabout the solutions they need and how service providers can deliver themmore effectively. Nancy Lubamersky, vice president of marketing forTelePacific Communications, will moderate the session.

Among the forces that will affect what enterprise customers are look-ing for as services is the move to fixed-mobile convergence (FMC). According to the Yankee Group, FMC is expect-ed to take hold in the large enterprise segment in the next five years, creating new service models around high-valuemanaged telephony services. “Today, enterprises are not demanding converged solutions and are largely uninformedof FMC technology,” said Nicholas McQuire, Yankee Group senior analyst of wireless/mobile enterprise solutions.“However, demand will rapidly grow as awareness of FMC’s benefits reach enterprise decision makers, such as areduction in and greater control of mobile costs, enhanced productivity and greater mobility. FMC will also enableservice providers to achieve lower customer churn levels, increased enterprise penetration and grow average revenueper enterprise. Perhaps most importantly, FMC telephony will also enhance their strategic standing with valuable enter-prise customers as well.”

Excell Expands CRM Capabilities

DSET Corp. (Booth 516) has showcased its service bureau “gateway” offering at COMPTEL. Launched last year, the service bureau portfolio consists of local services, access services (including preorder), trou-

ble administration, number port, caller ID, E911, calling cards and primary interexchange carrier care functionality. The service bureau offerings are hosted at DSET’s facility and maintained on a round-the-clock basis. DSET

software enables telecommunications providers to implement electronic Trading Partner Networks (TPNs) to accessthe hosted services; each client company has its own private and secure database and can access services remotelyfrom a Web browser.

DSET also provides the installation, interoperability-testing, training and maintenance services required to putTPNs into production and maintain smooth operation.

The gateways target all tiers of providers; they can handle an unlimited number of trading partners and thou-sands of transactions per day, the company said.

DSET Shows Off Service Bureau Offering

“FINANCE-ABLE”SERVICE PROVIDERS:

FINDING AND SECURINGFUNDS FROM INVESTORS

Monday, March 20

4 - 5 p.m.Randle Ballroom CDE

Carrier Panelists Share Strategies for Finding, Acquiring Funding

THE CUSTOMER ISALWAYS RIGHT:

TAILORING OFFERINGSFOR THE ENTERPRISE

Tuesday, March 21

8:30 - 9:30 a.m.Randle Ballroom B

Tailored Solutions Satisfy Customers


Your business. EvolvedWith complete, end-to-end global,

regional and local solutions, AT&T

Wholesale has the tools to help your

business thrive. A full spectrum of

voice capabilities. Flexible, reliable and

scalable data applications. Worldwide

leadership in IP networking. And a

global network that reaches over 240

countries and territories. Now imagine

your business. Evolved.

Visit: att.com/wholesale

Serving: Carriers • Wireless Providers • Cable Operators • Systems Integrators • ISPs

SBC and the SBC logo are trademarks of AT&T Knowledge Ventures. ©2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

SM

Services are marketed on behalf of the applicable members of the AT&T family of companies.

ATTwhole-ComptelSD06-FP4Ctab 3/6/06 3:47 PM Page 1


For the past 18 months I have been thinking a lot about peer-to-peer traffic and how it might impactthe many networks that combine to form the Internet. Understanding that this kind of traffic can onlycontinue to grow, I thought it could begin to burden the network without providing it with revenue. Iasked a number of backbone carriers to go on record about the potential impact it might have on theirfacilities and what, if any, plans they have to “monetize” this traffic. Carriers all acknowledge theirconcerns, but none would tell me when or how their companies might address it.

Of course, the largest telcos and cablecos now have revealed their intentions. I predicted today’sall-you-can-eat plans would be replaced with something more closely tied to bandwidthconsumption. But I did not anticipate the Bells’ proposal, which goes beyond measuring usage torestricting access to content.

Certain content providers — let’s say deep-pocketed corporations or advertisers — would havefirst priority on our computer and television screens while other information — like that fromcompetitors or peer-to-peer communications — would get a lower priority or even be blocked.

They want to carve the Internet up into private networks that they control completely. This doesn’t mean we won’t be able to geton the Internet. I’m sure they will be more than happy to offer us consumers access as long as we buy all our voice/data/videoservices from them. I am sure they are eager to support our company IP VPNs on their network and those of their paying peers, whichby the way, our preferred competitive carrier is not one, so we’ll have to move our entire data center to new facilities.

If you are a competitor reliant on Bell facilities, disregard for “common carrier” obligations is plenty to get your attention. Butthe ramifications of ending the Internet’s neutrality and putting its control into the hands of just a few companies goes beyonddestroying the business models of many innovative startups. It undermines information flow.

Control of the Internet, which in many ways is evolving as an interactive substitute for radio and television, will have far-reachingimpacts on public discourse. (Think “Media Ownership, The Sequel;” it’s so scary because it could come true.) So, we may no longerbe able to visit the blogs we like because they conflict with gatekeeper’s views. We may no longer be able to stream news that reportsnegatively about the gatekeeper’s company or its affiliates/supporters/advertisers. In other words, the public interest will beabandoned. It may seem like I am overreacting, here. But it is not unprecedented behavior for the Bells and cablecos, which havelobbied against public interest mandates requiring they provide for public access TV stations.

Opponents of net neutrality say it dampens investment in infrastructure, but that argument — while accepted by the FCC when itrecently lifted network-sharing requirements from Bell broadband pipes — doesn’t make sense. Says net neutrality advocateLawrence Lessig in his blog of Jan. 13, “Broadband is infrastructure — like highways, if not railroads. If you rely upon ‘markets’alone to provide infrastructure, you’ll get less of it, and at a higher price.”

And, it’s turning out they may not take you where you want to go.

Khali HendersonGroup Editor

Roadblocks on the Information Superhighway

AgendaMonday, March 20

7:30 - 9:30 a.m.

CEO Council Breakfast MeetingRandle Ballroom AB

8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Registration

9 a.m. - Noon

Exhibit Hall Open Elizabeth and Manchester Ballrooms

9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Deal Center Open

12:30 - 12:45 p.m.

Atlantic-ACM Best-in-Class U.S. Wholesale AwardsRandle Ballroom CDEATLANTIC-ACM unveils its Best-In-Class domesticwholesale carriers with over a thousand ratings bycarriers’ customers.

12:45 - 1:45 p.m.

Grand Opening Remarks & Keynote AddressRandle Ballroom CDEEarl Comstock, President and CEO, COMPTELJ. Sherman Henderson III, Chairman of the Board,COMPTEL; and President and CEO, Lightyear

Network Solutions LLC

Keynote AddressRandle Ballroom CDEThe Honorable Ted Stevens, R-Alaska;

Chairman, Senate Commerce, Science &Transportation Committee

1:45 - 2 p.m.

25th Anniversary Afternoon Break

Sponsored by Progress Telecom

2 - 2:30 p.m.

Special GuestThe Honorable Kevin J. Martin, Chairman, FCC

2:45 - 3:45 p.m.

Extreme Makeover: Service Provider EditionRandle Ballroom CDEHear from executives who have knocked down theirold business model to capitalize on new technologiesand opportunities, and have met head-on thechallenges faced in the communications marketplace.

Session Leader:Earl Comstock, President and CEO, COMPTEL

Presenters:Bill Capraro, CEO, CIMCO Communications Inc.Hank Carabelli, President and CEO, Pac-WestMichael Gallagher, President and CEO, First Avenue

NetworksBill LaPerch, President and CEO, AboveNet

4 - 5 p.m.

“Finance-able” Service Providers: Finding and Securing Funds from InvestorsRandle Ballroom CDEService providers need to understand exactly whatventure capitalists and investment banks are lookingfor when they consider doling out funds. Case studiesof successful service providers will be presented toshow just what it takes to secure the public or privatefinancing needed to expand operations or enter newlines of business.

Session Leader:Vik Grover, CFA: Managing Director, Investment

Banking, Merriman Curhan Ford & Co.

Presenters:Kevin Coyne, CFO, FiberLight LLCJohn Siegel, Jr., General Partner, Columbia CapitalRichard Smith, President and CEO, Eschelon

TelecomKeith Wilson, CFO, PAETEC Communications

4 - 6 p.m.

Networking Reception in Exhibit Hall Elizabeth and Manchester Ballrooms

8:15 p.m.

An Evening with Kenny Loggins

Presented by Compass GlobalAdditional support provided by Homisco, Sansay, Sirius Telecommunications and Veraz Networks

“345 B St.” (one mile from Hyatt)4th and B A 21+ venue; must be 21 years of age to enterThis is a concert event only, cash bar is available(Transportation will be provided from Hyatt starting at 7:30 p.m.)

GROUP PUBLISHER

MIKE SAXBY [email protected]

EDITORIAL

KHALI HENDERSON Group Editor

[email protected]

PAULA BERNIER Editor in Chief

[email protected]

CHARLOTTE WOLTER Editor at Large

[email protected]

MEGAN MCCOY Managing Editor

[email protected]

CARA SIEVERS Assistant Managing Editor

[email protected]

MANYESHA BATIST Assistant Managing Editor

[email protected]

TARA SEALS Associate Editor

[email protected]

KELLY M. TEAL Online Editor

[email protected]

ADVERTISING

BETSY CHANDLER Associate Publisher

[email protected]

AHMED SHAMS Account Executive

[email protected]

SUZY KELLEY Account Executive

[email protected]

PRODUCTION

CHRIS VERNAM Production Director

DOLLY AHLES Director of Art

TAMARA ELLIOTT Art Director

KIMBERLEE BOWERS Group Traffic Manager

DANIELLE DUNLAP Lead Traffic Coordinator

MARGIE BEALL Traffic Manager

MATT COURTER Lead Advertising Art Director

KAREN WILLIAMS Advertising Art Directors

ANGELA WRIGHT

BRUCE BECK Classified Art Director

MAKEASA ROSEMOND Classified Traffic Coordinator

ROB JACKSON Web Ad Coordinator

CIRCULATION

SIMONE KJOLSRUD Circulation Director

[email protected]

Circulation Sales, ext.1285

Circulation List Rental, ext. 2081

TRADESHOW DIVISION

DANA HICKS Trade Show Director

SARAH WASCHLER Trade Show Manager

DANICA CULLINS Exhibitor Sales Coordinator

DAWN CARTER-NOE Production Coordinator

MARLO SNEDDON Education Coordinator

SEAN EGAN Art Director

VIRGO PUBLISHING

JENNIFER L. BOLTON President/CEO

TERESA DUNAWAY CFO

KELLY RIDLEY Controller

LINDA MADDOX Director of Human Resources

Published by Virgo Publishing

P.O. Box 40079 Phoenix, AZ 85067-0079

+1 480 990 1101 FAX: +1 480 990 0819E-mail: [email protected]: www.phoneplusmag.com

COMPTEL Show DailyProduced by PHONE+, xchange

andNew Telephony


Global Crossing (Booth 1120) has partnered with Telstra Inc., the U.S. subsidiaryof global carrier Telstra Corp. Ltd., Australia’s leading telecommunications and infor-mation services company. Telstra will leverage Global Crossing’s Fast-Track servicesto immediately commercialize its offer to enterprises in critical markets in theAmericas and bypass expensive and time-consuming network buildouts.

Global Crossing’s Fast-Track services, provided to partners through its Global Partners Program (GPP) is a portfolio of enterprise-focused business solu-tions that enable service providers to increase their speed-to-market and revenuerealization by expanding their geographic reach, broadening their range of con-verged IP service offerings, and providing a unified experience to customersaround the world.

“Telstra’s confidence in Global Crossing clearly demonstrates the exceptionalvalue and revenue realization opportunities our Global Partner Program delivers,” saidTed Higase, Global Crossing’s executive vice president of worldwide carrier services.“We’re confident they’ll leverage our global capabilities, dedicated sales teams andstate-of-the-art services to their best advantage.”

Global partners utilizing Fast-Track leverage a range of support services to quick-ly drive customer acquisition and maximize revenue, including dedicated account

executives, solutions engineers, and service and delivery managers who manage busi-ness opportunities with their partners as a single team.

As part of this arrangement, Telstra is providing Global Crossing with dedicated private-line connectivity and a range of managed services at the core backbone levelthroughout the Asia-Pacific region, enhancing Global Crossing’s capabilities in that region.

“Telstra has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Global Crossing in the U.S.and Latin America, and we look forward to expanding that relationship to other regionsof the world,” said Andrew Morawski, Telstra’s senior vice president of sales and mar-keting. “Our success depends on providing customers with seamless, end-to-end serv-ices, and this partnership highlights our ongoing focus on serving customers effective-ly and transparently, anywhere they do business.”

Drew Kelton, managing director of Telstra Global Business, added, “We’re confidentthat this relationship will bloom into a highly strategic arrangement over time. We alreadyhave interconnects with Global Crossing and the GPP provides us with a massive oppor-tunity to collaborate and provide even greater added value services to our customers.”

Global Crossing was founded on a vision of convergence of voice, video and data,and other rich media. Today, its network has more than 200 PoPs in North America,Europe, Asia and Latin America.

XO Communications (Booth 1412) announced anexpansion of its wholesale VoIP solutions, introducing anew voice origination service that offers serviceproviders a more scalable and cost-effective means fororiginating voice calls nationwide.

The new service, XO VoIP Origination, providesbroadband telephony providers, cablecos and otherservice providers with interconnection, transport andorigination of local calls nationwide through a single IPconnection on the XO IP network. With the ability tooriginate local calls through a single IP connection,service providers can eliminate the need to purchase andmaintain expensive voice gateways in markets wherethey offer service, enter new markets more quickly andmanage voice traffic more efficiently nationwide.

“XO now offers service providers end-to-end solu-tions for originating, terminating and transporting IP-based voice calls nationwide,” said Ernie Ortega, presi-dent of carrier sales at XO Communications. “Throughour extensive softswitch platform and national IP net-work, customers can leverage the power, scope and eco-nomics of IP to cost effectively develop and deliverservices to their end-user customers.”

XO VoIP Origination offers service providers thefollowing features:

• In-bound/local origination service nationwide • Reliable intercity transport • SIP or TDM interconnection to XO IP network• Local number portability• Directory listing• Caller ID with name• 24/7 network management and proactive

network monitoring• Interconnection and usage reporting• Easy-to-use Web portal for service changes

and ordersWith XO VoIP Origination, incoming calls can

originate in either IP or TDM format and are routedacross the XO OC192 class-of-service enabled networkat the highest level of priority. The calls then are routeddirectly to the service provider’s network through an IPor TDM connection. With this flexible network archi-tecture, the XO VoIP platform meets the needs of cus-tomers with legacy networks or new entrants that havemore advanced network architectures.

XO has one of the industry’s largest IP-basedswitching platforms, supporting both traditional cir-cuit-switched voice and packet-based VoIP. Five yearsago, XO began implementing VoIP technology in itsnational IP network with the deployment of softswitchtechnology from Sonus Networks, a provider of VoIPinfrastructure solutions. XO has deployed Sonussoftswitches to support the delivery of VoIP in morethan 60 metropolitan markets and, today, carries morethan 2.2 billion minutes of VoIP traffic each quarter.

COMPTEL • MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2006 5

Global Crossing, Telstra Deliver Converged IP ServicesXO Introduces Voice Origination

Third-party verification provider VoiceLog LLC(Booth 1021) announced at the COMPTEL PLUSConvention + Expo it has processed more than 100 mil-lion calls, just in time for its 10th anniversary.

To commemorate the milestone, VoiceLog is run-ning a 100-day challenge to users of other TPV servic-es. For the next 100 days — until June 9, 2006 —VoiceLog’s automated TPV service is free to companiesthat switch from a different TPV supplier to VoiceLog.

“Whether you try us for one day or 100, we’re con-vinced our 99.999 percent uptime, superior sell-throughrates and legendary client support will keep you withus,” said Larry Leikin, vice president of VoiceLog.“We’ve never made an offer like this and probably neverwill again, but we thought it would be a fun way to givethe few companies that don’t use us the opportunity toexperience the best in TPV service at no risk.”

In addition to automated third-party verification,VoiceLog offers Web-based recording retrieval; AnyLanguage on Earth language support; integrated live and automated verification services; and state-specific scripting. Other recent introductions include a VoiceXML-based speech-recognition platform,VoiceLab script testing facility, and real-time dash-boards for performance tracking.

The company now provides third-party verificationfor telecom, competitive electric and natural gasproviders, financial services and health care providers,and recording and monitoring services for call centers.

VoiceLog Touts 10Years, 100 Million Calls



SwiftTalk Ltd., an ISP and network operator headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, has selected SkyPilot Networks(Booth 317) equipment to roll out advanced wireless voice, data and Internet access services in that country.

SwiftTalk currently is deploying services in three Nigerian cities: Lagos (where it operates five networks),Port Harcourt (with three networks) and Warri. Future deployments in Nigeria — some of which will involvestrategic partners and alliances — will expand network coverage to Aba, Abuja, Ibadan, Jos and Onitsha.

SwiftTalk serves business and residential markets, providing a combination of data communications, Internetaccess and telephony services. For businesses, the SkyPilot-powered wireless network will provide intra-city vir-tual private network links between company locations, interconnectivity for POS/credit card/ATM terminals,multisite VoIP/IP PBX services, and home Internet access and home office links for company employees. For res-idential subscribers, the network provides Internet access, peer-to-peer VoIP and international VoIP calling.

“Internet access to the home and small offices is still a novelty in Nigeria,” said Oyom Ojo, CEO ofSwiftTalk. “There is a greenfield opportunity in virtually every city in Nigeria — both large and small — that wecan capitalize on with SkyPilot’s mesh architecture and cost-effective coverage capabilities. This will allow us todeploy wireless access rapidly and cost efficiently in our current and planned operating areas. It also will let usquickly scale that network as demand requires.”

SwiftTalk is deploying SkyPilot’s full product family including the SkyGateway carrier-class base station,SkyExtender high-capacity mesh backhaul device, and SkyConnector CPE.

“We put a high priority on low equipment costs for our customers,” said Irabor Ighedosa, sales manager ofSwiftTalk, “so the relatively low cost of the SkyConnector is an important benefit.” SwiftTalk’s own deploymentcosts are minimized because the SkyConnectors are discovered automatically by the network and use visual feed-back of signal strength to ensure proper installation.

“The ability to expand our offering into Wi-Fi access with SkyPilot’s SkyExtender DualBand is another sig-nificant benefit,” said Austin Uwudia CTO of SwiftTalk. The SkyExtender DualBand combines 802.11b/g accesspoint functionality with long-range mesh backhaul, so Wi-Fi clients can connect directly to it, without the needfor intermediate CPE. Its dual-radio architecture eliminates interference between subscriber access and networkbackhaul services, boosting network capacity.

SwiftTalk also selected the SkyPilot solution for its ease of deployment and support, cost effectivenessand long-range coverage. Non-line-of-sight capabilities also were important — particularly in dense urban areas such as Lagos, where high-rise buildings block signal paths and produce high levels of multi-path interference.

Coastal Technologies Group (Booth 1314) announced amajor upgrade to its automated service order delivery tool, OSSConnect, as well as the addition and integration of Order Flow, anew business workflow tool.

OSS Connect Version 3.1 is 90 percent different than previ-ous versions of the software, which first was launched about ayear ago, said Jay Bowker, vice president of global sales and mar-keting for Coastal.

One of the significant enhancements, Bowker said, is the addi-tion of pre-order validation to ensure that orders sent from one car-rier to another are completed accurately. “Each service order hasdozens of fields to be populated,” said Bowker, noting if any one ofthem is not filled out or filled out incorrectly, the order can be reject-ed. Redoing it takes time and resubmission may incur extra charges,he added. “This tool saves time and money.”

OSS Connect 3.1 also is integrated with a new tool, OrderFlow, that is a business process workflow tool. “It could be used

standalone, but the compelling component is when they worktogether,” he said.

Order Flow tracks orders from when the sale is consummatedto the installation. “All the steps in between are tracked by OrderFlow,” he said, noting one of the steps initiates OSS Connect.

Order Flow is customizable by Coastal techs or the customer.“We have predefined elements that you can drag and drop into theorder you want,” he said.

Order Flow is offered on an ASP basis. Subscriptions arebased on the number of users. Bowker said it also will be provid-ed as a turnkey software solution on a licensed basis on request.

OSS Connect also is offered on an ASP basis; customers payper order submitted. “It’s less expensive and less hassle,” saidBowker, noting that Coastal takes care of updating the program toreflect semiannual changes from the Ordering and Billing Forum.

OSS Connect also can be provided turnkey for an annuallicense fee.

Intelliverse (Booth 617), a service provider for the wholesale marketplace, announced thelaunch of a new company name and its new service, Talking Planet, a private-label VoIP serv-ice for CLECs, hosting companies and other communication VARs.

Intelliverse was formed from the combination of Voicecom Telecommunications LLC(Booth 618), a 20-year veteran of the telecommunications industry providing IVR products forthe business-to-business market, and iNuntius Inc., a SIP VoIP and unified communication soft-ware developer which Voicecom acquired in November 2005.

Talking Planet is Intelliverse’s first offering combining Internet phone and video communi-cation service with IP technology and the features of unified communications.

Talking Planet’s wholesale solution is powered by seven highly evolved core competencies.Providing total program support and tailored to meet business objectives, the VoIP offering max-imizes profitability and extends competitive advantage into residential and SMB markets.

Intelliverse rapidly can deploy the Talking Planet Business solution as a private-label serv-ice and provide the flexibility for complete integration of such functions as account provision-ing, product fulfillment and billing within a company’s existing infrastructure.

Highly scalable, the comprehensive turnkey service accommodates an unlimited number ofsubscribers. Talking Planet provides a true end-to-end VoIP solution, offering unlimited localand long-distance calling, as well as features including caller ID, call waiting, three-way call-ing, E911, video calling, unified inbox, follow-me and voice-activated dialing.

For small and medium businesses, Intelliverse Talking Planet Business provides IP Centrexfunctionality, such as auto-attendant, call transfer and conference bridging regardless of geo-graphical location.

Coastal Technologies Upgrades OSS Connect,Adds Order FlowBy Khali Henderson

Tekelec (Booth 704) announced two CLECs —Burlington Telecom and Crocker Telecommunications LLC— have deployed the Tekelec 7000 Class 5 Packet Switchand Tekelec 6000 VoIP Application Server to deliver rev-enue-generating voice, Internet and video services.

Burlington Telecom, the new fiber-optic public networkoperated by the city of Burlington, Vt., has deployedTekelec’s next-generation switching platforms to enable thelaunch of triple-play broadband Internet, cable television andvoice services in early 2006 for the city’s residents, busi-nesses and government institutions.

“We evaluated many products, and Tekelec’s combinedClass 5 packet switch and VoIP applications server was thebest choice to help us quickly roll out reliable services forour community with minimal impact to our network invest-ments,” said Chris Burns, COO at Burlington Telecom.

Crocker Telecommunications, a family-owned operatorbased in Greenfield, Mass., delivers advanced voice and dataservices, including broadband Internet, ISDN, colocation andWeb hosting, to business and residential customers inWestern Massachusetts.

“Tekelec delivers a flexible switching solution that inte-grates with our existing network infrastructure and enablesthe cost-effective delivery of the latest services that our cus-tomers demand,” said Matthew Crocker, vice president forCrocker Telecommunications.

The Tekelec 7000 fully integrates with IP and time divi-sion multiplexing network interfaces, enabling a smooth net-work migration to VoIP while reducing operational costs.The Tekelec 6000 VoIP Application Server integrates withTekelec’s switching platforms to enable delivery of feature-rich voice, data, video and wireless services. More than 220customers have purchased more than 400 Tekelec 6000 and7000 systems.

“We understand the pressures on local carriers to provide the latest new services while keeping operationalcosts low,” said Tricia Hosek, president and general manag-er of the Tekelec Switching Solutions Group. “Our combined Tekelec 7000 VoIP softswitch and Tekelec 6000application server lay the foundation for IP-enabled services and allow operators to continue leveraging theirexisting investments.”

Tekelec Solutions Deployed at BurlingtonTelecom, Crocker Telecommunications The Independent Alliances Telecom Group (INDATELgroup, Booth 616), a trade association

of carriers, has grown its membership to include nearly half of the United States. New York’sIndependent Optical Network (ION) and Indiana’s Fiber Network (IFN) are the latest to join. All 23statewide networks are owned by the independent telephone companies in their respective states.Carriers can contract with them individually to provide high-quality, cost-effective broadband accessinto underserved rural areas — and metropolitan areas — via fiber-optic SONET routes.

INDATEL President Max Huffman said, “These are companies that have been in businessfor generations, and are in the business for the long haul. They touch the major cities but tend tocross the rural landscapes.”

These networks provide opportunity for diverse, protected routes, and they often can do itwith a cost benefit to customers. The states covered and member companies include:

INDATEL: One Group — 23 States

SkyPilot Partners With SwiftTalk to Bring Mesh to Africa

Intelliverse Debuts Hosted VoIP

Google,Yahoo! and a host of other Internet powerhouses have begun to challenge the telephony status quo with theirown free VoIP offerings. How will market dynamics change as these companies give away the very voice services thattraditional telephone companies sell for profit? Are these VoIP offerings truly free?

The “Executive Viewpoint: A New Voice for the Internet” panel will explore how this new voice paradigm ispoised to change the voice business as we know it.

Todd Landry, senior vice president, Sphere Communications; Jeff Ganek, chairman and CEO, NeuStar Inc.; andTom Kershaw, vice president, next-generation services, VeriSign Inc., will provide focused insight into these questions.

“The topic tees up a good question,” said Landry. “The prospect of free voice has been around for a long time. Soyou have to ask yourself why would this not be true for business?” The difference, Landry said, is “what the businessneeds are and what the expectations are of communication for their businesses. In many respects it is mission-critical.”

What businesses already are adopting, mostly smaller businesses now, is the technology of free services, namelyhosted voice. For larger businesses, those that have IT organizations, “first and foremost they see their jobs as runningthis stuff in a business, and they already run a lot of back-office applications. Plenty of companies run their own CRMrather than salesforce.com,” Landry said.

An IT staff wants to control mission-critical applications for their businesses, “which means they want tomanage deployments themselves. At the same time, developers of technology, like Sphere, are making that solu-tion more economical, more software-oriented, making it easier to deploy and operate every day.”

Sphere Communications, a developer of IP PBXs recently has released a new version of its product that is all soft-

ware. “The only hardware that you need is an off-the-shelf server to runit on like other back-office applications,” Landry said.

That fits in with another trend in voice over IP, SIP trunking, inwhich enterprises link to service providers over all-IP trunks. “Theydon’t really need media gateways anymore.” Having that all-IP pipenot only reduces voice expenses and makes deployment of new fea-tures easier, it also makes it possible to link voice to yet another trendin business, namely service-oriented architectures (SOAs).

Here, businesses use business management software, such as SAP or BEA, and various human resources financialand sales automation systems, “and one of the premises of SOA is to give those systems a way to communicate witheach other so they can optimize different transactions,” Landry described. Communication also should be a part of thatlinked architecture.

For example, if a new employee joins a company, the human resources contact should not only brief the person andprovide company resources, but also be able to authorize and assign the phone on that person’s desk as an automatedpart of the process, rather than sending e-mail to other individuals to do that task.

For service providers, the message is, “Why wait to reach this middle market?” Landry asked. “Someone will eitherdeploy it themselves or buy hosted. It is analogous to buying Centrex or circuits.” Service providers can sell suites ofbundled services but on the premises have installed software that the customer can use to control everything.

Arizona — ALECAGeorgia— US CarrierIdaho — Syringa NetworksIndiana — Indiana Fiber NetworkIowa — Iowa Network ServicesKentucky — East Kentucky NetworkMichigan — Great Lakes ComnetMinnesota— AuroraMissouri — Missouri Network AllianceMontana — Montana Advanced Information NetworkNebraska— Nebraska Independent Telecom NetworksNew Mexico— New Mexico Networks

New York — Independent Optical NetworkNorth Carolina — Access/OnNorth Dakota — Dakota Carrier NetworkOhio — Independents Fiber NetworkOklahoma — Oklahoma NetworksSouth Carolina — PalmettoNetSouth Dakota— SDN CommunicationsTennessee — IRIS NetworksTexas— Texas Lone Star NetworksWisconsin— Wisconsin Independent NetworkWyoming — Advanced Communications Technology

THE EXECUTIVEVIEWPOINT: A NEW VOICE

FOR THE INTERNET

Tuesday, March 21

8:30 - 9:30 a.m.Randle Ballroom D

Taking Advantage of New Business Models


Profitec-ComptelSD06-FP4C 2/24/06 10:35 AM Page 1

3PV - Third Party Verification Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1316ADVA Optical Networking Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214Advanced Software Concepts (ASC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1517Advantage Telcom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .705Alliance Group Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1320ALLTEL Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1510AT&T Wholesale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1205BellSouth Interconnection Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1504BeQuick Software Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .315BillSoft Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .521BlueTie Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .412BridgeWave Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .416Broadwing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1305BSG Clearing Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1005Cavalier Business Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1419C-CAMS Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1513CentricVoice Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .601Cisco Systems Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1212Citynet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1423Coastal Technologies Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1314Communications Data Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .418Compass Global . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .423ComTec Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1422ConferencePlus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .318Conference Group, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1518Consolidated Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1222Control Point Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1323CopperCom Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .518CustomCall Data Systems Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1501D2C Telecom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .219Dagda Mor Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1521DataProse Billing Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1515DCI Voice Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .612DDR Broadband Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1509DSET Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .516

Dynavar Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .714ECI Telecom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1505Edison Carrier Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1218Emdeon Business Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .712Endeavor Telecom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .321Enventis Telecom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1023Equinox Information Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1317EUR Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1217Excell Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1516FPL FiberNet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1221GigaBeam Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1421Global Crossing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1120GlobalTouch Telecom Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .611Grande Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1310Hatteras Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1108hkcolo Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .417Homisco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .509ILD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .709IMS Forum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .424INDATELgroup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .616Info Directions Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .520INFONXX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1000Integretel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1123Intelliverse/Voicecom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .617, 618InterMetro Communications Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .604Internet Telephony Magazine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .716Interoute Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1018Interstate FiberNet/ITC^DeltaCom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1104Iowa Network Services (INS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1010IRIS Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .517ITS Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1318KDL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1009KeySpan Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .615Level 3 Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210LightCore Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .305

Lightyear Network Solutions LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1016LogiTel Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .320Looking Glass Networks Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1416Martin Group Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1004MetaSwitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .513Mpower Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1417Multipoint International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1122NCIC Operator Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1321NEON Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1201New Paradigm Resources Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .600NexTone Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .310Norlight Telecommunications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1301NTS Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1008OnFiber Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1223Onvoy Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1520Orca Wave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1502OSG Billing Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1215PacketFront Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .421Pac-West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211PAETEC Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1319PERSONIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .201PHONE+ and xchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218PPL Telcom LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217Profitec Billing Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1119Progress Telecom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1019Qwest Communications International Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1204RCN Business Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1522Sandy Beaches Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1322Sansay Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .717SDN Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .619Seawolf Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .613sentitO Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .313Sirius Telecom Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .323SkyPilot Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .317Sprint Nextel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1211

SRP Telecom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1015Stealth Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .522Step 9 Software Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1121Syniverse Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1100SysMaster Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .608TCAST Communications Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1514Technologies Management Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1118Tekelec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .704TELCAP LTD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .621TelCove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1411Telecom Compliance Services Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1011TeliaSonera International Carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .419Telispire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216Tellabs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .319telx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .414Thermo Credit LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .519Transaction Network Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .505TransNexus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .420UDP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1420Vanco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .413Veraz Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .316Verizon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .504Vero Systems Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .512Vertek Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1519Virtual Back Office Software Inc. (VBOS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1418VLM International Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .620VoiceLog LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1021VoIP Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .304White Rock Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .500XO Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1412Xspedius Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1114Zhone Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .400

As of March 2, 2006

COMPTEL wishes to thank the following sponsors for their support of its Spring 2006 Convention + Expo

Cisco Systems Inc.Compass Global

Qwest Communications International Inc.

Edison Carrier SolutionsMicrosoft Corp.

RCN Business Solutions

HomiscoProgress Telecom

Sansay Inc.Sirius Telecom Inc.

TellabsVanco

Veraz NetworksXO Communications

Additional Sponsors:AT&T WholesaleBroadwing CommunicationsControl Point SolutionsCoStreet CommunicationsCovad CommunicationsDavis Wright Tremaine LLPFibernetHatteras Networkshkcolo Ltd.InterMetro Communications Inc.Kelley Drye and Warren LLPLightCoreLooking Glass NetworksMpower CommunicationsSyniverse Technologies Vero Systems Inc.VLM International Inc.

Premier Media Sponsors:PHONE+xchange

Additional Media Sponsors:Capacity MagazineFatPipeFierceVoIPIntele-CardNewsInternet TelephonyTelecommunications MagazineTelecomWebTelephonyVoIP Business News

Other Partners:CCMIIMS ForumPTC ‘06

Company Booth Company Booth Company Booth Company Booth

Platinum Sponsors: Gold Sponsors: Silver Sponsors:



the new general bandwidth

After seven years of innovation, General Bandwidth is now GENBAND, signifying

a new era for the company. With the addition of new call control and signaling

products to our market leading media gateways, GENBAND introduces its line

of IMS products and solutions targeted at the evolving wireline, cable, and

wireless networks.

Discover the new GENBAND by calling us at 866-GENBAND or visiting our website

at www.genband.com.

beyond voice

new vision more products innovative solutions

GenBandWdth-CPSD06-FP4Ctab 2/24/06 2:17 PM Page 1


The Personix unit (Booth 201) of Fiserv Inc. has received the highest rating of participants in a 2005study of best business practices conducted by Madison Advisors, a Texas-based consulting firm spe-cializing in customer communication technologies. Personix also received the highest rating in the 2003version of this biannual study.

Madison Advisors Best Practices Study measures business practices associated with the compo-sition, production and delivery of personalized documents such as statements, transaction summariesand checks for both print/mail and electronic (Web) delivery. The Best Practices Study analyzed 34participants, with 14 in-house print facilities and 14 independent document service providers,including Personix. The study captured more than 600 data points from each participant to identifyleading practices in 21 areas of document production.

Personix exceeded the overall average in 20 of the 21 measured areas and attained at or near“Best Practice” scores, the highest mark possible, in the following areas:

• Electronic Print Costs• Equipment Utilization • Functionality • Hardware• Mass Mail Machine Insertion Costs• Miscellaneous Processing Costs• Processes and Procedures • Quality Metrics• Service Level Agreements • Software• WorkflowTodd Stine, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Personix, said the Personix overall score

was the highest in the Madison Advisors Best Practice Survey. “The only measured area not exceedingthe overall average was ‘capacity utilization’ and that was due to our heavy equipment commitment tomeeting client quarter-end schedules,” he said. “Personix exceeded average scores in the study by 25.5percent thanks in large part to a series of policies and software tools that help drive costs down and qual-ity up. Our 2005 Software score increased significantly from 2003 as a result of a new print manage-ment system used for all jobs in each facility, in addition to enhancements to our client Web interfacetool (WC3).”

Facing regulatory mandates restricting the availability of UNEs, serviceproviders have a number of access options to evaluate for line migration andgrowth. A panel of service providers Tuesday will discuss what’s available andwhen to use them.

Panelists will take a look at the subject one layer of the OSI model at a time,starting with Layer 1 access. Mike Miller, president and CEO of FiberLight,will discuss fiber as a replacement for UNE-L, fiber-wireless interfaces, fiberaggregation and ways to divide fiber into gigabit pipes.

“Many customers are replacing UNE with special access rates under sepa-rate contract to avoid having to install facility-based applications,” said Miller,noting the cost of building and installing physical locations in each CO often is prohibitive. “If you can cutthe cost of the backbone to cover the traffic, then the cost to install becomes more justified. By using thisfiber in a pay-as-you-grow plan, companies can start migrating from special access in high-density COssooner and become less dependent on the BOC.”

Miller will discuss options to install fiber and pay on a capacity basis. He also will talk about installingcustomers in tandem locations and providing fiber to a carrier hotel or node to cut the costs of transport in ametro environment. He will touch on something he calls a “hybrid fiber wireless interface” for point-to-pointand multipoint deployments of PCS or WiMAX as alternatives to UNE and special access pricing.

David Malfara, Sr., president and CEO of Remi Communications, will take the dis-cussion up the stack to Layers 2 and 3. “We need to make efficient and effective use ofall available access methods and use Layer 2/Layer 3 technology (MPLS, VPLS, H-VPLS, 802.1Q VLANs, VLAN stacking, prioritization, etc.) as a way to accomplishthat goal,” said Malfara.

“Bottom line: the business model is changing again. Economic realitiesrequire carriers to make more efficient and effective use of first-mile access facil-ities. We, as carriers, can ill-afford to ignore any method of available access toour customer, but the efficiency and effectiveness of use of those access methodsneeds to improve. Layer 2 aggregation technology is where this happens.”

Ernie Ortega, president of carrier services for XO Communications, also will talk to Layer 3 and replacements forUNE-P contracts, which were phased out earlier this month. He will talk about alternative access services offered bywholesalers to UNE-P resellers that are moving to their own or partitioned switching facilities.

The panel will wrap up their discussion by questioning the premise of the panel — whether it’s neces-sary to avoid UNEs altogether. “There are a number of ways to reach the customer,” said Malfara, notingthese may include wireless, fiber, Ethernet over copper or even UNE loops. “With one customer, we may usefour different [methods]. What’s critical is aggregating them into a metro area network.”

The bigger challenge for providers is normalizing service delivery across all access types.

Personix Unit of Fiserv Recognized in Best Practices Study

Syniverse Technologies (Booth 1100), a leading provider of mission-critical technologyservices to wireless telecommunications companies worldwide, has launched Operator ENUMDatabase Service to route voice and data services efficiently over an IP network.

Syniverse’s Operator ENUM Database Service provides the network intelligence required todetermine, in real time, the owner of a given phone number, the advanced services associatedwith that number, and the most efficient route to reach that number. Additionally, the servicevalidates interconnect agreements that operators utilize to establish interworking for servicessuch as VoIP and multimedia messaging (MMS).

Leveraging Syniverse’s experience with network database services, number portability solutions and operator interconnectivity, Operator ENUM Service enables a straightforwardmigration path to next-generation IP services while enabling operators and carriers to reduceoperational costs and improve interoperator network efficiency. Syniverse’s service reducesoperators’ capital investment by enabling the operator to utilize a high-performance ENUMquery engine without the expense of buying and operating private ENUM servers.

Syniverse’s Operator ENUM Database Service works by enabling carriers’ switches toquery the most recent routing information for a given subscriber’s telephone number, includingported number information, to complete a call or message to that subscriber. Operators utilizing IP-based services such as MMS interworking can submit routing queries in-band overthe IP network, versus utilizing external SS7 transport networks, reducing costs and gainingefficiencies. As operators and carriers migrate to VoIP and other IMS-based services, they canutilize the same ENUM database to provide routing resolution for those services.

“As the telecommunications industry migrates to IP-based services, operators can look toSyniverse to reduce the complexities by leveraging our SS7 transport, database queries andnumber portability capabilities,” said Linda Hermansen, vice president of business developmentfor Syniverse.

“This service adds another component to the Syniverse portfolio of services that enable anefficient migration from the circuit switch to next-generation packet-switched networks. It enables wireless, wireline, cable and VoIP service providers to fully leverage theirinfrastructure investments and interconnect agreements for today’s services and provides aneconomical path to advanced services.”

Syniverse Technologies Launches ENUM

TelCove (Booth 1411), a leading provider of business critical telecommunications services to enterprise customers andcarriers, experienced extensive network growth throughout 2005. TelCove’s Carrier Server group, which offers a broadarray of wholesale service products, now offers carrier customers significantly more reach and coverage across TelCove’s70 interconnected markets.

TelCove expansion includes:• Total markets served, which have grown from 52 to 70 markets as a result of the acquisition of KMC Telecom’s mar-

kets, customers and network assets, and expanded from four operating regions to five• Buildings served, which have increased from approximately 3,300 to over 3,800 — a 15 percent increase• PoPs and LSOs connected, which have risen from 400 to well over 500“During 2005, TelCove greatly improved [its] ranking compared to the largest national and regional competitive serv-

ice providers,” said Brian Lippold, vice president of TelCove’s Carrier Services Group. “In terms of markets served, totalnetwork metro miles, total long haul miles, and buildings on-net, TelCove ranks either No. 1 or No. 2 nationally comparedto other major competitive providers.”

Additionally, TelCove is allocating a significant capital budget in 2006 to further extend our network to new customers,always increasing our reach and density — boosting TelCove’s buildings on-net and the metro miles in service for our car-rier customers.”

Carriers can choose from TelCove’s industry-leading metro and intercity Ethernet services, other local and intercitytransport services, colocation, IP services, voice services, and wholesale frame and ATM data services. TelCove’s 22,000miles of fiber-optic network connect its markets from Burlington, Vt. and South Florida, to Houston and Wichita, Kan., andmany locations in between.

TelCove’s Carrier Services Group specifically is aligned to focus on providing the highest level of service and supportto CLECs, ISPs, MSOs, IXCs, international carriers and wireless providers.

TelCove Continues to Expand Network Reach and Density

Mpower Communications (Booth 1417), a leading provider of data and voice services to wholesale and retail busi-ness customers, has expanded its facilities-based network with a 141-route-mile fiber network. The new fiber networkhas two fully survivable rings, which connect Mpower’s switch and the majority of its colocation facilities in Las Vegas.Out of the 16 local service offices available in Las Vegas, Mpower will be on-net in 12 of them.

This SONET-based network ring topology ensures high reliability and service levels for all Mpower customers inLas Vegas. The company’s comprehensive end-to-end network connectivity in the city includes dedicated backbonetransport and direct last-mile connections to its customers. It also includes their colocation at Switch ConnectionsGroup, which is now on-net with the new fiber. The colocation at Switch Connections Group will allow Mpower tointerconnect with many long-haul IXCs.

“This Las Vegas fiber backbone complements our California fiber network and gives us substantial fiber assets in our largest markets,” stated Russ Shipley, Mpower’s president of wholesale and chief network services executive. “With this network in place, we have lower transport costs, enhanced network quality and shorter provisioning intervals. We also gain greater flexibility and more control over the connections to our customers with-out relying on the ILEC.”

The fiber network opens up new business opportunities for Mpower as it passes through key business centers ofconcentration in the city and creates wholesale opportunities for Mpower’s private-line offering. Mpower also recent-ly completed renovations on its network operations center in Las Vegas and is opening a new switching service centerin the city some time this year.

Mpower has been serving the telecommunications needs of the Las Vegas market since 1996 and currently employsmore than 300 people in that market.

Mpower Completes Fiber Expansion in Las Vegas

Progress Telecom (Booth 1019) now offers customers the ability to bundle current and future bandwidth needs into asingle transaction, thereby qualifying for volume discounts. Under the FlexBand program, Progress Telecom gives cus-tomers the ability to grow their bandwidth as needed by activating circuits as business growth dictates.

FlexBand addresses customer demand for future connectivity, as well as the flexibility for circuit termination to a mixof pre-defined locations. Customers are able to order, activate and bill smaller increments of bandwidth needs over a spec-ified timeframe to fulfill their total commitment. FlexBand takes individualized, easy-to-use solutions to a new level — byfocusing on transactions of scale. Progress Telecom collaborates with its customers to create total, long-term solutions thatsave them money.

Progress Telecom offers a variety of options for service deployment including 10-day on-net intervals, and scheduledplans based on customer needs. FlexBand is available for customized DS1, E1, DS3 and OCn configurations and offers afully redundant, geographically diverse network topology. FlexBand customers receive 24/7/365 network performancemonitoring and guaranteed network availability.

FlexBand is part of Progress Telecom’s Private Line Service as SONET or SDH, and also will be available as Ethernetin many locations.

Progress Telecom Offers FlexBand

THE ALTERNATE ACCESS UNIVERSE:OPTIONS FOR THE UNE TRANSITION

Tuesday, March 21

8:30 - 9:30 a.m.Randle Ballroom A

Service Provider Panelists Look at CLECs in a World Without UNE


When their current business plan goes out of style, companies need a fresh new lookto attract customers and increase profitability. In today’s executive roundtable, COMPTELattendees will hear from members who have revamped their business models to keep upwith the changing times.

Panelists include Hank Carabelli, president and CEO of Pac-West Telecomm Inc.; BillCapraro, CEO of CIMCO Communications Inc.; Michael Gallagher, president and CEO of FirstAvenue Networks; and Bill LaPerch, CEO of AboveNet Inc.

“We’ve gone through some rather turbulent times in terms of transitions at the FCC and interms of changes in the rules,” said COMPTEL President and CEO Earl Comstock, who willlead today’s discussion. “Many of these companies have had to do extreme makeovers of theirbusiness plans to continue to function. I think these folks have been successful at making that transition.”

Pac-West, for example, has transitioned from a regional CLEC to a nationwide enabler of custom phone companies.The company divested its retail CLEC business in a sale to TelePacific Communications and is in the midst of expand-ing its network nationally to provide a platform bridging the PSTN and the Internet for VoIP, wireless, Internet and otherservice providers.

And, First Avenue is formerly Advanced Radio Telecom Corp. (ART), a peer to the ill-fated LMDS providers.ART filed and emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in early 2002. Its name change was not merely cosmetic;the company has been rebuilding with new assets (it bought Teligent’s 24GHz spectrum licenses in 2004) and aprimarily wholesale business model.

Comstock said the roundtable presents an opportunity to talk about these transformations and “how they see poten-

tially having to do this yet again if Congress were to significantly change the rules once again.”Comstock is frank about the negative impact current proposals to rewrite

the Telecommunications Act of 1996 might have on its members’ businesses. “Certainly, if theEnsign bill or either of the Barton drafts or the DeMint bill were adopted that would have sig-nificant adverse consequences for the entire competitive industry,” he said.

Last fall, Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee were upset whenChairman Joe Barton, R-Texas, brought out a revised version of an earlier draft of the BroadbandInternet Transmission Services (BITS) Act that went much further toward serving Bell companies’interests than before. The House committee draft differs in some respects from the leading Senatebill on telecom reform, Broadband Investment and Consumer Choice Act, which was introduced

last summer by Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., but in overall thrust, the two measures are largely in sync.Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., introduced the “Digital Age Communications Act of 2005” in December 2005. It

also takes a laissez-faire approach to broadband.“The common issues most COMPTEL members are concerned about is where does interconnection and

access to networks fit into the picture?” said Comstock.He concedes today’s roundtable is, in part, “an effort to help educate the industry on the potential impacts of

proposed changes to the law and also galvanize them to be heard in Congress and see that the changes that wouldadversely affect them would not be made.”

The lack of required interconnection and the imposition of a two-tiered Internet are among the provisionsmost likely to inspire opposition, he said.

Like COMPTEL, ILD (Booth 709) too is celebrating an anniversary. The company has announced its 10thanniversary, highlighting a decade in which it has seen tremendous growth while maintaining financial stability.

At the time ILD was formed in 1996, the company was solely a switchless reseller of long-distance and operatorservices. Later, ILD added other services with the acquisition of the operator services division of WorldCom in August1997. Along with that acquisition came a set of LEC billing agreements, the central assets from which ILD’s paymentservices division evolved.

In December 1997, ILD acquired InterLink, a prepaid calling card provider with the infrastructure to support alter-native payment options, such as prepaid calling for medical and correctional facilities and payphone operators. Thecompany added more than a dozen such prepaid providers from 1997 to 2000, and in 2001, that operation expandedfurther with the addition of the global travel card business of Cable & Wireless and the infrastructure that supports it.

2001 saw the addition of a third division, the ILD ROLLCALL Business Conferencing division. ROLLCALLuses Avaya Inc. bridges to provide automated and live conferencing services, Web conferencing and collaboration toenterprise accounts, agents and resellers, as well as disaster recovery for larger carriers.

The company has processed securely more than $2 billion through its payment division, clearing all kinds of communication-related services, including voice, content and value-added services.

For example, ILD provides many payment options for customers of EarthLink Inc., offering check by phone,LEC billing or phone billing. This means the monthly charge for EarthLink’s ISP services can be put on the cus-

tomer’s local phone bill. This also allows local phone companies to opentheir bills to a wide range of services, from ISPs and messaging to onlineperiodicals and other subscription communication services. Today,ILD’s alternatives to the credit cards now help service providers andmerchants reach new markets using the monthly phone bill.

According to Eddie Brooks, CFO of ILD, “To survive and grow in thisindustry, we had to make sure we managed the business efficiently. We runeach division as an autonomous business with corporate oversight anddirection. This management strategy has proven to be successful across theboard because each division treats every dollar like their own. We are in a strong financial position right now, and that’sin part due to the fiscal responsibility in this structure.”

Brooks added, “We had to show our customers that we could operate efficiently so they could be reassured thatwe would be around tomorrow. We got to know their various products and related business practices, and then devel-oped innovative tools to help them manage and grow their businesses, just as we are growing our own. We strive tobe the least-cost provider of the most innovative products in the industry.”

ILD is celebrating its “Decade of Excellence” with various new business promotions for the COMPTEL com-munity, like its a referral program, which pays customers 10 percent of any 10 leads that generate new business.

EXTREME MAKEOVER:SERVICE PROVIDER EDITION

Monday, March 20


Will Telecom Rewrite Inspire Provider Makeovers?

ILD Celebrates 10th Anniversary




C-CAMS Inc. (Booth 1513) has signed The Pager & Phone Co., one of Kansas City, Missouri’s most suc-cessful niche communications companies, as a customer of its CCAMS customer service and billing suite.

Under the terms of its sales contract, C-CAMS will provide The Pager & Phone Co. with a full-service solu-tion that incorporates customer care, account maintenance, service order processing, provisioning, client fieldservice, workflow management, rating, commissioning, billing, point-of-sale and accounts receivable.

The CCAMS suite is a multitiered, browser-based solution, with all of its modules designed as part of anintegrated solution, not as code pieced together as new applications emerge. Feature-rich and flexible, theCCAMS suite integrates quickly and easily across LANs and WANs.

The solution supports ILECs and CLECs by handling all aspects of TCSI code processing, VoIP, TDMA,CDMA, GSM, CDPD, GPRS, SMS, HSCSD, NENA 2, CDR, IPDR and DDR rating, taxation interface, andLNP conversions.

According to C-CAMS, its technology allows customer service representatives to provision services direct-ly, in seconds; new service plans also can be deployed almost as quickly as they can be conceived.

The CCAMS solution also originates all customer, account, service and workflow activity in billing so everybillable event is captured and reported as soon as a customer’s services are provisioned. The application’s auto-matic operation and reporting capabilities allow users to verify revenue flow from network activity to the cus-tomer’s final invoice with virtually 100 percent accuracy.

“We needed a robust, malleable software that could run a large, growing business with the diligence andattention to detail we enjoyed as a small company,” said Dale Schmick, CEO of The Pager & Phone Co.“CCAMS was the only software on the market that delivered.”

Established in 1995 as an affordable communications provider for low-income customers, The Pager &Phone Co. offers cellular/PCS service from Boost, T-Mobile USA Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc., as wellas paging, long-distance service, prepaid residential telephone service and prepaid Internet access.

With 107 employees and 17 stores in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, The Pager & Phone Co. has been oneof Kansas City’s fastest-growing companies for the past seven years and is recognized as the area’s second-largest minority-owned business.

Charter Communications Inc. and Level 3 Communications (Booth 210) have extended their rela-tionship with a new, multiyear agreement under which Level 3 will support Charter’s expansion of con-sumer and small business telephone services. Level 3’s (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service will enableCharter to reduce the time-to-market associated with its deployment of VoIP-based services.

The agreement extends the portfolio of services Level 3 delivers to Charter, which currently includes(3)Voice Termination service, (3)CrossRoads IP services, (3)Link Dark Fiber service and (3)LinkIntercity Private Line service.

The latest service to be adopted by Charter, (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service, is a telephone solutionthat will increase the speed and efficiency of Charter’s launch of IP-based local and long-distance com-munications services. (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service provides local phone numbers, local numberportability, fixed location E911 and local trunking. Level 3 is able to offer these services in 4,300 ratecenters, in part as a result of its CLEC status in all 50 states.

“By working with Level 3, we can leverage a full suite of local, long-distance and E911 voice serv-ices to accelerate our telephone deployment and expand into new markets,” said Ted Schremp, seniorvice president and general manager of Charter Telephone. “Our relationship with Level 3 provides speed-to-market benefits which will allow us to more quickly capture market share.”

In addition to unlimited local and long-distance calls, Charter Telephone customers receive caller ID,voice mail, call waiting and call waiting with caller ID, speed dialing for eight different numbers, andanonymous-call rejection. The Charter network also has a backup system in case of a power failure, andcustomers benefit from Charter Telephone’s E911 emergency service.

As a wholesale provider and enabler of network solutions, the Level 3 network makes it possible forcable companies like Charter to implement quick-to-market solutions, providing a competitive advantageto retain and build its customer base, according to Level 3.

“The cable segment is an important area of focus for Level 3 and we are excited to extend our relationship with a leading cable operator like Charter,” said Myrle McNeal, senior vice president of local voice services for Level 3. “Our nationwide local voice network, extensive voice experience and the scalability and flexibility of our solutions have a proven track record of helping cable operators quickly introduce and immediately differentiate their voice services from traditional phone service.”

FiberNet Telecom Group Inc.’s Availius subsidiary this week showcased its Phonomenum offering atCOMPTELPLUS.

With a diverse portfolio of services for network operators and data facility user, Availius custom designs,implements and manages network, infrastructure and business solutions to solve critical business issues.

Phonomenum, launched last October, is an ENUM-based technology platform that enables carriers, cableoperators and VoIP service providers to establish peering connections and exchange VoIP traffic.

“Phonomenum answers the challenge of interconnecting multiple voice-over-IP service providers to direct-ly exchange VoIP traffic,” said Ernest Hoffmann, vice president of engineering for FiberNet. “This platformalso incorporates a carrier-class implementation of ENUM to address the need for an extremely reliable, high-ly scalable service that can handle hundreds of millions of phone numbers as demand for VoIP service grows.”

ENUM refers to the Internet Engineering Task Force protocol that maps telephone numbers to resources onthe Internet in much the same way a Domain Name System architecture maps domain names and host namesto IP addresses. It is a key technology that enables VoIP calls to be routed directly between VoIP providers.

FPL FiberNet is a wholesale carrier in Florida. FiberNet Telecom Group owns and operates integrated inter-connection facilities and diverse transport routes in the two gateway markets of New York/New Jersey and LosAngeles, designed to provide comprehensive broadband interconnectivity, enabling the exchange of traffic overmultiple networks.

Charter Communications, Level 3 Sign Multiyear Voice Services Agreement

Profitec Billing Services (Booth 1119) has announced the release of its newest product offerings tailored to meetthe billing and OSS requirements of a wide array of VoIP service providers.

Profitec’s OmniVON combines service bureau billing, CRM, customer care, trouble management, provisioning,online order entry and electronic bill presentment into a single integrated solution paid for on an “as-you-drink” basis.As a service bureau offering tailored to startup VoIP communications companies, OmniVON has modest startupexpenses and very low minimums.

“For more than 20 years Profitec has been successfully working with hundreds of telecommunications com-panies to meet billing and administrative software requirements for a wide range of service providers,” saidRandy Minervino, vice president of sales and marketing. “We currently support almost 30 traditional telepho-ny providers who have added VoIP to their current product portfolio. This has allowed us to demonstrate thatour traditional OmniBill offering can successfully mix legacy products with voice over network applications toproduce integrated billing and administrative solutions.”

Profitec has brought online many new client companies that do not offer traditional telephony products andmay not have the requisite infrastructure and industry experience helpful to facilitate the success of their busi-ness strategies. “For new businesses entering this complex marketplace, there are many facets of their businesswhich require critical attention,” said Minervino. “For them, our goal is to take on as much of their billing andsupport requirements as possible in order to free them to concentrate on launching their business, recruiting andtraining a sales force and formulating their marketing attack strategies.

“It has been our experience that traditional telephony providers are operating in a mature environment utilizing aready pool of trained product sales people marketing proven technology to a receptive customer base,” he added.“However, due to the latency of voice-over-network offerings, consumers are cautiously adapting to the opportunityand existing telephony sales people need to be re-educated on the technology and capabilities of this important newmedium. Technical aspects need to be assimilated and ultimately presented to the prospect community in a non-threatening manner. This alone requires great effort and expense to new service providers, who may also be engagedin recruiting, training and filling support positions.”

New wholesale service providers continually are entering the marketplace leading to “very nonstandard back-office procedures, which are continually changing,” said Minervino. “Dealing with underlying wholesale providersrequires a great deal of flexibility, and service initiation processes, which may require site surveys and other techni-cal aspects. It has been our experience that now more than ever new market entrants require service providers whocan take on as much of the responsibility as necessary to help them achieve their strategic business directions. To helpmake it easy on this potential customer segment we are releasing a group of product offerings which de-emphasizetraditional telephony components and focus almost exclusively on voice-over-network requirements.”

Profitec’s OmniVON combines market-proven VON billing and customer care capabilities; agent-based onlineorder entry and sales management tools; and consumer-oriented EBPP systems into a single integrated solution.Profitec provides server and Web-based software systems as well as service bureau billing and print/mail facilities.OmniBill ASP goes one step further and eliminates the need for client-provided IT infrastructure by providing a host-ed OmniBill option while providing OmniAgent and OmniView software, which can operate on a client’s Web serv-er. Hosted OmniBill enables client-powered customer service, provisioning and all other administrative components.

FiberNet Telecom Group Showcases New Subsidiary, ENUM Offering

Equinox Information Systems (Booth 1317) has announced that TeleGuam Holdings LLC (known as GTA), haslicensed its Collector and TeleLink software.

Collector and TeleLink comprise the Equinox mediation platform for downloading and integrating usage datafrom the switch-to-billing applications and other operational support systems. GTA will use the mediation softwareto download usage data from its Nortel DMS 250 switch.

TeleGuam Holdings, in partnership with Shamrock Holdings and General Electric, purchased the assets of theGuam Telephone Authority in 2005. It provides fixed landline communications to nearly 65,000 business and res-idential customers in Guam along with the MPULSE GSM mobile phone service.

Equinox Signs GTA

Profitec Releases VoIP-Specific Offerings

C-CAMS Signs Kansas City’s Pager & Phone Co.

The technology track sponsored tomorrow by Cisco Systems Inc.will address hot topics such as how to migrate from legacy to next-generation networks, how best to secure networks, and interoperabilitychallenges and solutions.

“The CTO Viewpoint: What Keeps Them Awake at Night?” session firstthing Tuesday morning will feature Keith Coker, CTO at Nuvox; TimothyDunne, CTO at RCN Corp.; and Cisco’s Mike Koons, senior director of U.S.service provider systems engineering, as the session leader.

Coker said his No. 1 concern these days is interoperability — specifically,how to validate interoperability between equipment such as softswitches, ses-sion border controllers, ATAs and integrated access devices in the telephonyenvironment. Another key focus for Coker is how to expand his existing oper-ational support systems to support the next-generation network environment.NuVox operates both legacy and next-generation networks today to support itssmall and medium business clientele. He also will address how to enable lega-cy OSSs to deliver customer self-fulfillment. Another key challenge for CTOslike Cox today, he said, is how to adapt from a telephony culture to the cultureof managed services.

The Cisco-sponsored session on “Securing the IP Network: The ServiceProvider Imperative” will discuss how important it is to offer a secure networkand how service providers can use that as a differentiator. Among the speakerson this panel are Mitch Ferro, senior director of IP and enhanced servicesproduct management at Broadwing; Bob Moore, vice president of IT atPAETEC Communications; and Randy Nicklas, vice president of engineeringfor XO Communications. Vic Northrup, vice president, U.S. Service Provider,Cisco Systems Inc., will act as the session leader.

Ferro of Broadwing notes that the Internet is a double-edged sword. While it provides great opportunities toenhance the efficiencies of businesses, there are security threats including viruses, spam and different types of attacksthat can intrude and prevent legitimate users from accessing a Web site or other data. “There’s a requirement to providemore security inherent in the connection that we provide the customer. At the same time, we’ll see standard Internetaccess service, and here’s a secure Internet service. A kind of ‘clean pipe,’ is how we can talk about it,” said Ferro.

“The Future of Internet” session, meanwhile, will forecast the next disruptive wave of Internet services, such aspresence-based communications and mobility, integrated and rationalized communications. In addition to sessionleader Northrup of Cisco and Koons, speakers include Carl Drueckhammer, technology director at Syniverse, and KirtJorgenson, director of market management at Cisco.

TECHNOLOGY TRACK

Tuesday, March 21

THE CTO VIEWPOINT:WHAT KEEPS THEMAWAKE AT NIGHT?

8:30 - 9:30 a.m.Randle Ballroom E

SECURING THE IPNETWORK: THE

SERVICE PROVIDERIMPERATIVE

9:45 - 10:45 a.m.Randle Ballroom E

THE FUTURE OFINTERNET: IT DOESN’T

END AT VOIP

11 a.m. - NoonRandle Ballroom E

Cisco Track to Address Next-GenNetworking and Security


Fast, Accurate, Dependable Invoicing

PerfectTeamworkIn a fast-paced business world, you have just one chance to get it right.The success of your business depends on the combination of synchronicityand a commitment to winning the race.

OSG Billing Services has spent over a decade perfecting bill presentment.Working jointly with our customers, we develop integrated solutionsand uncover new marketing opportunities that enhance and grow theirbusinesses. OSG Billing Services helps increase communication andeliminate confusion in the billing process. With the first delivered bill,our customers notice:

• Reduced calls to customer service• Enhanced cross-selling/up-selling opportunities• Decreased postage costs• Improved cash flow• Faster turnaround of invoices• Reduced and controlled operating costs

1-888-EASY BILL • www.osgbilling.com

Visit us at COMPTEL PLUS

2006 Convention & Expo

Booth # 1215, March 19 - 21

OSG-CASD046-FPtab4C.qxd 2/27/06 10:43 AM Page 1


Lightyear Network Solutions LLC (Booth 1016), a residential and business telecommunications service provider,has earned Cisco Systems Inc.’s Powered Network status for its Lightyear XSTREAM VoIP.

Based on Cisco’s network technology, Lightyear XSTREAM VoIP provides customers with an array of advancedtelephone customization options that far exceed the capabilities of traditional VoIP services, according to Lightyear.

“Cisco Powered Network status provides instant integrity and credibility to all of our VoIP products as businessowners understand and respect the Cisco endorsement of our network,” said Sherman Henderson, Lightyear’s CEO.

Cisco developed the partnering program to distinguish service providers offering the highest levels of quality andreliability. Less than 400 service providers in the world are members of the Cisco Powered Network.

“Having the Cisco Powered Network status differentiates us as a service provider,” Henderson said. “There are spe-cific requirements regarding Cisco in the use of our solutions, and we meet or exceed those criteria, guaranteeing ahigh-quality level of service for our VoIP network.”

Participation in the Cisco Powered Network program demonstrates to individuals and businessesLightyear’s ability to provide industry-leading services that are based on Cisco solutions. The serviceprovider also benefits from its Cisco Powered Network designation through joint marketing and technologysharing with Cisco.

“We are pleased to have a network provider such as Lightyear,” said Nick Bauer, major account manag-er for Cisco. “The company is committed to delivering high-quality, secure and reliable services to its cus-tomers, meeting the most stringent standards for network reliability and performance.”

Lightyear Receives Cisco-PoweredNetwork Status for XSTREAM VoIP

Advanced Software Concepts (ASC, Booth 1517), a tailored telecommunications contract lifecycle manage-ment (CLM) solutions provider, announced today at the COMPTEL show its new Carrier Relationship Managementsolution. With ASC’s CLM engine, ASC Contracts, at its core, this solution automates the buying, selling, pricing,quoting, ordering and auditing activities between carriers.

“ASC appreciates that the single biggest purchases and sales made by telecommunications organizations arewith other carriers. It is critical to their overall financial success that they be able to effectively manage these carri-er relationships,” said Shawn L. King, president and CEO of ASC. “ASC’s Carrier Relationship Management solu-tion efficiently manages the selling and buying of network services while facilitating the billing and invoice valida-tion processes.”

ASC’s Carrier Relationship Management offering is a Web-based solution that leverages the “ASC BestPractices” framework and is tailored to each carrier’s environment and processes. The solution encompasses man-agement of carrier agreements, automation of the carrier RFQ process and carrier order tracking while providing acentral tool to facilitate off-net circuit auditing.

Using ASC’s Carrier Relationship Management solution, carriers have a platform in which all carrier buy, selland reciprocal agreements are housed and managed through a single process and with a central, easy-to-accessrepository, according to the company. Armed with a complete picture of its suppliers, carriers will be able to betternegotiate terms and conditions, isolate unneeded facilities, and definitively identify supplier invoice problems. Thenet result is improved control over off-net carrier costs.

ASC Announces CarrierRelationship Management Solution

Remi Communications, a Pennsylvania-based smart communications provider, has selected MetaSwitch (Booth513) for its IMS implementation.

Designed to address the challenge of delivering competitive, flexible telecommunications services to large enter-prise and government users, Remi’s network is built on MetaSwitch’s proven session control, media/signaling gate-way and application server components. IMS call session control function is implemented by MetaSwitch CA9020call agent servers deployed in two hubs in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. MetaSwitch MG3510 media gateways arelocated throughout Remi’s serving area to achieve the levels of redundancy and reliability demanded by Remi’sblue-chip customers.

In addition to robust call control and media gateways, Remi selected MetaSwitch for its award-winning IMSapplication server, the UC9000 unified communications system. The UC9000 platform delivers a compelling rangeof new services integrating presence and instant messaging with traditional voice calling. These services are avail-able to all Remi subscribers, whether they are using IP phones or regular analog handsets.

“I strongly believe in the potential of IMS to enable the ‘holy grail’ of convergence and an open feature creationenvironment,” said David J. Malfara, Sr., Remi’s president and CEO. “I also knew that we needed a solution thatwas built for prime time, including the ability to deliver full equivalence for legacy Class 5 features including E911,CALEA and LNP. MetaSwitch offered the only solution that provided proven Class 5 capabilities, including busi-ness-class services, with an open IMS architecture. For our customers, this translates into continued support of alltheir existing features — plus the availability of exciting new services such as unified messaging, PC-based call con-trol and support for IP endpoints such as softphones.”

The MetaSwitch solution also provides an open platform for the development of new services in the future,based on the SIP standard as specified by IMS.

“For carriers such as Remi, who are strongly focused on meeting customers’ next-generation communicationsneeds, MetaSwitch recognizes the integral role IMS will play in fueling an open applications environment thatpromises to completely change the rules of telecom,” said Andy Randall, vice president of marketing forMetaSwitch. “MetaSwitch is committed to enabling carriers to quickly and cost effectively architect their next-gen-eration networks for new multimedia-enhanced IP services — without compromising any of the legacy capabilitiesthey need to continue supporting to enable a smooth migration.”

Remi Communications Selects MetaSwitch for IMS

DCI Voice Solutions (Booth 612) announced it has expanded its Least-Cost Routing Table to includeadditional routing capabilities in response to a wide range of client quality and pricing requirements. The newtables, referred to as DCILCR, offer clients comprehensive access to multiple carriers through five specialtyrouting products: Select, Premium and Economy Domestic, and Select and Premium International.

International calls terminated through U.S. domestic products will be routed through DCI’s SelectInternational LCR table. The domestic tiers are as follows:

• Select: This table is DCI’s original U.S. domestic LCR platform and was developed to provide accessto multiple carriers offering a balance of price and quality. This is DCI’s standard U.S. domestic prod-uct and the U.S. domestic component of DCILCR’s Premium International product. VoIP carriers andaggregators are among the list of providers targeted.

• Premium Domestic: Large carriers, including ILECs and CLECs, can use expanded features such asLRN availability.

• Economy Domestic: This product was designed for the most aggressive pricing needs. As for international, U.S. domestic calls terminated through Premium International will be routed

through DCI’s Select U.S. domestic product. Calls terminated through Select International can be used inconjunction with any of the three DCILCR U.S. domestic products.

• Select International: This is DCI’s original international LCR platform and is the companion to DCI’sSelect U.S. domestic product. As DCI’s standard international product, Select International serves as theinternational component of DCILCR’s U.S. Domestic Select, Premium and Economy products.

• Premium International: This product is the international companion to DCI’s Premium Domestic product. The DCILCR products can be used separately or, when multiple solutions are desired, simultaneously by

setting up a different trunk group for each product. “The products presented by DCILCR enable us to offer one of the most comprehensive termination solu-

tions available,” said DCI Executive Vice President Neil Rosenblit. “Companies seeking wholesale productsat wholesale rates are often limited to a very narrow scope of service. DCILCR and the flexibility it offerswiden that scope considerably.”

DCI Voice Solutions Expands Least-Cost Routing Tables

PacketFront Inc. (Booth 421) has announced that Anaheim, Calif.-based PAXIO Inc., a CLEC providingInternet and VoIP services, has chosen PacketFront’s unique BECSTM control and provisioning system for thedeployment of advanced IP services in new residential developments in California.

Working closely with one of the nation’s largest home builders, PAXIO is offering FTTH to the rapidlygrowing technology hub of California’s Bay Area. PAXIO’s FTTH network offers homeowners virtually unlim-ited bandwidth that provides Internet connection speeds of up to 1gbps, a speed far superior to those providedby telephone or cable networks, according to PacketFront. This allows homeowners to easily download moviesfrom the Internet, effortlessly conduct multiple downloads at one time and use VoIP services. PAXIO offeringsstart as low as $26.50 per month.

BECS automates the IP services delivered across the new FTTH infrastructure to disparate geographical sitesand provides support and management facilities to each site. PAXIO is able to manage all end users from a central-ized location, which has raised customer service standards and reduced resources required for moves, additions andchanges to subscriber services.

“PacketFront has provided us with some sophisticated new tools that help us deliver on our motto ‘True Broadband,True Choice’,” said Phillip Clark, president of PAXIO. “We are a rapidly growing company, dealing with broadbanddeployments over a vast geographical area. As such, it is vital that we have complete control over our networks froma central location, and that we can troubleshoot problems quickly and efficiently. We feel the introduction ofPacketFront equipment and management systems will have a significant long-term effect in reducing OPEX.”

To keep pace with the high demands of PAXIO’s customer base, a more sophisticated Layer 3 design was nec-essary to manage advanced FTTH services. This was achieved by replacing PAXIO’s existing access layer withPacketFront ASR routers, managed by BECS. This enables PAXIO to provide service control right up to the net-work edge, while allowing the rest of PAXIO’s existing network infrastructure to be retained.

In addition to BECS, PacketFront has supplied PAXIO with its Subscriber Management Tool (SMT) and HelpdeskManagement Tool (HMT) software solutions.

SMT delivers self-registration and self-activation capabilities to end users, while HMT provides customervisibility and enables remote troubleshooting of problems.

“We are very pleased to be involved with such an exciting and up-and-coming company in California,” saidMartin Thunman, CEO of PacketFront. “The BECS system is ideal for challenging, large-scale deployments suchas those carried out by PAXIO. Not only does it offer complete automation and control over service provisioning,but also offers high levels of functionality in vital areas such as security, traceability, QoS and conditional access.”

PacketFront Helps PAXIO DeliverAdvanced FTTH to Bay Area

Compass Global Inc. (Booth 423), a leading operator of IP-based international voice and data communicationsnetworks, is using Sansay Inc.’s VSX VoIP session control systems to minimize operating costs while maximizingthe QoS to hard-to-reach destinations. “We had originally been looking to complement our TDM switch with VoIP,but it quickly became obvious that the world was moving toward a global VoIP-to-VoIP infrastructure,” said DeanCary, founder and CEO of Compass Global. “Sansay was the only company who really listened, understood andappreciated the significance of what we wanted to do.”

As a result of converting to an IP-based infrastructure based on Sansay systems, and tight integration with theirin-house Global Traffic Management software, Compass Global enjoyed immediate gains in performance and prof-itability for both its wholesale and retail networks.

“Before we migrated to Sansay, our TDM switch alone cost between $75,000 (and) $90,000 per month forpower and other environmentals, with DS3s, SS7 links and other facilities adding another $100,000,” Cary said.“With the new IP infrastructure we can replace what used to take up 2,500 square feet with four Sansay units thesize of DVD players and consume less power than a hair dryer. We’re saving $180,000 (to) $200,000 each monthand our quality improved dramatically by eliminating conversions of voice traffic between TDM and IP.”

Compass Global Leverages SansaySession Control for Cost-Effective VoIP

New Global Telecom Inc. (NGT) has launched its IPower session border control leasing service, giving carriersexclusive access to a fully licensed and supported NexTone Multiprotocol Session Controller (MSC).

The services will be sold under the company’s General Telecom brand, and will complement existing IPartitionhosted softswitch services.

“This is the next logical step for many of our customers,” said NGT President and CEO Rich Grange. “IPowerclearly helps us serve the growing VoIP market and strengthens NGT’s leadership in outsourced wholesale VoIPsolutions to world-class carriers.”

IPower options will include CDR reporting, enhanced call-rating, CDR-based alarming and automated least-cost routing capabilities.

Service providers using the new IPower rental services will have access to: Stand-alone MSC collocated atNGT’s world-class facilities; NGT bandwidth to handle higher traffic volumes; Maintenance support from highlytrained and qualified NGT technicians; and 24/7 monitoring by the NGT NOC.

NGT Launches VoIP Rental Service


ADVA Optical Networking Inc. (Booth 214) recently announced thegeneral availability of a new release of its flagship optical platform, theFiber Service Platform (FSP) 3000. Combining new features into a WDMplatform with an extensive application scope, the FSP 3000 Release 7allows a best-in-class value proposition across a broad range of networks,according to ADVA.

The platform delivers three families of transponders and muxponders— access, core and enterprise — which enhance the ability of carriersand enterprises to evolve their networks, deliver new services and imple-ment systems that are easy to use.

“The new FSP 3000 release represents a significant step in next-generation WDM transport while integrating multiple advanced featuresinto a single world-class platform,” emphasized Brian P. McCann,ADVA’s chief marketing and strategy officer. “This platform takes ouroptical/Ethernet innovation strategy to a higher level and provides themost versatile optical provisioning platform in the industry.”

The new release will be sold directly by ADVA and through all thecompany’s sales partners, including Fujitsu Network CommunicationsInc. and Siemens Information and Communication Networks Group.

The FSP 3000 highlights the following new features:• 40gbps Linespeed— New transponders/muxponders offer unprecedent-

ed scalability for the fastest commercially available speeds, effectivelyfuture-proofing the network for the next major step in higher bit rates.

• Modular Hybrid ROADM — The modular ROADM creates an incremental approach to offering dynamic network configurationswithout the high cost and complication of full ROADM architectures.

• Raman Amplification — New amplifier modules offer a single-spanreach of up to 200 km to extend network distances beyond 600 km with-out regeneration.

• 80 Wavelengths— Increasing from 64 wavelengths in prior releases,the 80-wavelength capability allows up to 640 applications to be trans-ported over a single fiber pair.

• 4G Fiber Channel and 4x Gigabit Ethernet Muxponder— Support forthe 4G network interface leverages the cost-per-bit benefits of 4gbps TDMaggregation compared to muxponders with 10gbps or 2.5G line interfaces.

• G.709 Digital Wrapper — The ITU standard enables more seamless inte-gration with other devices and provides SONET/SDH-like OAM visibility,offering significant enhancements over the capabilities of SONET/SDH.

• Slimline Shelf— With single-rack-unit height, ADVA’s product offersthe industry’s smallest form factor.

• GMPLS Control Plane — Generalized multiprotocol label switchingcontrol plane delivers increased provisioning and management intelli-gence. With Release 7, ADVA enables a staged approach, first attempt-ing open shortest path first (OSPF)-routing and then constraint-basedrouting for network traffic when necessary.

• GFP and OTN Multiplexing — Standardized generic framing proce-dure and optical transport network aggregation capabilities supportinteroperability between ADVA and other industry devices.

• Tunable DWDM lasers— Ease of use, cost savings on sparing andnetwork planning simplification streamline DWDM network deploy-ments.

• Pluggable SFPs— The universal small form-factor pluggable portdesign provides expanded flexibility, reduced logistics and sparing costsfor local interfaces and CWDM or DWDM remote interfaces.

• Single Wavelength Add/Drop— This feature enhances scalability on amore granular basis than a banded or full-band WDM add/drop node.

3PV — Third Party Verification Inc. (Booth 1316) has launched an electronic signature called AssureSign thatpermits anyone with a computer to sign one or more documents securely over the Internet in a matter of minutes usingtheir mouse. No special equipment or software is needed, and the signature is legally binding.

3PV employs a patented process that, among other security features, adds a serial number and a watermark to thesignature and then encrypts them with the document. The sequence, which is seamless and immediate, yields the onlyservice-based, electronic, handwritten signature on the market today, according to 3PV.

“Even more important than the efficiency of our AssureSign process is the integrity of the signature,” said 3PV’sCEO David Brinkman. “We can match the signature for authentication in much the same way as a traditional signa-ture.” Should an AssureSign signature ever be copied fraudulently to another document, the watermark and serialnumber will not change, allowing 3PV to independently identify each signature and document signed, he explained.Furthermore, if a document is alleged to have been signed with AssureSign and the watermark and serial number aremissing, that signature and document is null and void.

“Our proven encryption process ensures the utmost protection while eliminating time-consuming copying, fax-ing and mailing,” said Brinkman.

Here’s how it works: Users send the documents to be signed, along with the contact information for their customers,to 3PV’s dedicated, secure AssureSign Web site. 3PV sends each customer a secure e-mail that takes them to theAssureSign page where the document is housed. The customer is provided with easy-to-follow directions for how to signthe document simply using a mouse. Once the customer submits the signed document, 3PV employs its patentedprocess, stores the encrypted document electronically, and makes it accessible to both the company and its customer.

AssureSign permits companies to obtain signatures anywhere in the world in a matter of minutes, not days orweeks, according to Brinkman. He said the product is a perfect fit for not only the telecommunications industry, butalso lawyers, medical professionals, real estate agents, mortgage brokers, real estate developers and other businessesthat require signatures on documents or agreements.

“It’s the simplest, most secure electronic signature available today,” Brinkman said.

3PV’s AssureSign Ensures Integrity of Electronic Signatures

ADVA Releases Enhanced Fiber Service Platform

Info Directions Inc. (Booth 520), a leading developer of net-centric billing, rating, order management,workflow and selling solutions for the telecommunications industry, has announced it has four serviceproviders launching MVNO initiatives using CostGuard XG OSS/BSS software. Info Directions will managerating, billing, customer care, electronic bill presentmentand payment, and channel CRM functions for theirnew and existing communications offerings.

“This is a benchmark for Info Directions and for our clients. The MVNO market represents a significant opportunity to leverage existing customer relationships and enter new lines of business,” said Don Culeton, president of Info Directions. “Info Directions designed its wireless solutions to help reduce the time-to-market concerns facing service providers in today’s highly competitive mobile market. Each of our MVNO clients has a different business model for their offering and we are pleased thatour solution supports them all.”

The service providers launching MVNO services will target a range of markets from international travel-ers and affinity marketing groups to business and residential end users, said the company. Three of them areoperating on the Sprint Nextel Corp. network and one is using Verizon Communications Inc. as a carrier.

With Info Directions’ CostGuard XG solution, MVNOs can streamline their back-office operations andfocus attention on customer care and revenue-generating initiatives such as product development, sales andmarketing.

In addition to handling new mobile services, each provider is leveraging Info Directions’ expertise toestablish best practices for their wireless offering and other lines of service. CostGuard XG will manage theirMVNO offering as well as other lines of business including local service, long-distance, calling cards, audioconferencing, data, VoIP and more.

The ability to manage all their product offerings from a convergent environment was a key considerationby each MVNO in the selection of CostGuard XG. Several of Info Directions’ MVNO clients also have elect-ed to use the company’s sales CRM tool E-Finity and its online EBPP solution OnlineBill.

“MVNOs need a partner with a flexible and scalable solution that allows them to customize their productsand services to meet the needs of the customers they serve, as well as the experience to guide them throughthe challenges of entering a new line of business,” said Culeton. “It is our goal to help our MVNO clientslaunch their mobile business quickly and manage it successfully as it grows.”

Four MVNOs Launch Info Directions’CostGuard XG OSS/BSS Solution

Vertek Corp. (Booth 1519), a leading provider of business solutions, process outsourcing and business consultingfor the telecommunications industry, announced today the release of its Managed Financial Assurance Program (MFAP).

Vertek’s MFAP is a hosted data management platform offering state-of-the-art analytical tools specifically engi-neered to acquire, validate and reconcile the accuracy of service providers’ monthly operating costs and billing, all ata low fixed monthly fee, without CAPEX or integration expenses. MFAP addresses service providers’ needs for costmanagement and vendor invoice administration, revenue assurance, product profitability and margin analysis.

“Whether you are a CLEC reselling services from multiple partners, or a carrier engaging with a new contentprovider partner for DSL or IPTV services, chances are you are experiencing some revenue leakage, unnecessary ven-dor costs and invoice overpayment,” said Brad Soutiere, president and COO of Vertek. “MFAP resolves these issueswhile optimizing the operating costs and revenues for new service offerings. Vertek has developed the interoperation,billing reconciliation and settlement standards for this offering that enables service providers to determine the healthof their partnerships and to gauge how well their partners are living up to commitments specified in existing contractsand SLAs.”

Vertek’s MFAP removes the considerable time and resources required to administer and process vendor invoic-ing and charges internally, and gives carriers access to meaningful exceptions and analysis of financial performance.It finds the source of discrepancies that cause unnecessary costs, record fallout, pervasive data integrity issues, miss-ing accounts and uncollected revenue.

With MFAP, Vertek captures, discovers and automates existing business rules, and streamlines data man-agement routines so that employees and systems operate more efficiently. The system provides the docu-mented proof that service providers need to support dispute claims and have timely credits issued.

MFAP enables customers to monitor the progress of monthly vendor costs, network utilization and cus-tomer revenue performance through an online Web portal that offers a comprehensive list of configurablereports including: vendor scorecard, billing account reporting, invoice summary and detail, vendor usagecharges, revenue assurance discrepancy and scorecard reporting, customer margin performance, vendor mar-gin performance, carrier traffic analysis and trending, and vendor invoice dispute and settlement tracking.

“The typical service provider, large or small, gets files, disks and thousands of pages of invoices fromvendors every month with various detailed charges for network access, leased facilities and equipment,new content services, service charges, directory items, to name a few,” said Tom Nolting, senior director of Vertek’s Financial Assurance Services. “These invoices need to be rationalized and reconciled with growing volumes of usage transactions, order and inventory records, and contract and enterprise data,often in disparate formats that make it very difficult to match up and validate. MFAP can save serviceproviders millions of dollars by catching billing discrepancies, collecting lost revenues, resolving historicaldisputes, analyzing contract-to-bill and switch-to-network discrepancies and by reducing customer imple-mentation timeframes.”

Vertek Launches Industry-First Managed Financial-Assurance Program



VoIP-CASD046-FPtab4C.qxd 2/27/06 10:47 AM Page 1

Show Daily - INCOMPAS · Show Daily Day 1 Show produced by COMPTEL GRAND OPENING REMARKS Monday,...

Documents

Transcript of Show Daily - INCOMPAS · Show Daily Day 1 Show produced by COMPTEL GRAND OPENING REMARKS Monday,...